By Whitney Ullman
The annual Le Diner en Blanc (Dinner in White) just wrapped up another successful year in Atlantic City. So let’s talk a little history and what to expect for next year’s event.
When one thinks of a traditional picnic, maybe a small basket of delicious fare comes to mind, or perhaps an oversized blanket or sheet to sit on, and of course a drink of your choice. Throw in the backdrop of a beach, along with a beautiful sunset, and all of a sudden it becomes a romantic experience.
To spice things up, add to the mix a dress code of all white and invite a couple thousand friends and now you’ve elevated the excitement by 100 percent.
Back in 1988 a Parisian man with a vision, François Pasquier, invited a group of friends to an elegant outdoor dinner and told them to dress in white so they could find each other. His son, Aymeric Pasquier, loved the idea so much that he introduced it to friends in Canada, and eventually hosted the first American Diner en Blanc in New York City in 2011.
François’ brainchild became so popular that it grew worldwide, with events spanning six continents. Today more than 120 cities in 40 countries have joined the ever-growing international network.
We have seen coverage of this in numerous cities including Philly, which is the closest major city to our area. But never did we think this would grace the historic Atlantic City Boardwalk. Until it did.
Philadelphia’s co-hosts Natanya DiBona and Kayli Moran debuted Le Diner en Blanc to Atlantic City on June 25, 2022, along with their 12-person planning team and close to 100 volunteers. The event was so successful, thanks to the Philly PR Girl team, and a partnership with Bart Blatstein and Showboat Resort, that it was attended by more than 2,500 people in the North Beach area of the Boardwalk.
And this year, thanks to Mayor Marty Small Sr. and the City of Atlantic City, the event, held June 24, was just as fabulous.
“The City of Atlantic City has been so welcoming to us, and we were particularly excited to bring the event back when we found this location,” said Natanya DiBona, co-host of Le Diner en Blanc Atlantic City.
She called the views “absolutely spectacular,” and a pleasant surprise to many of the out-of-town guests.
“We loved that the event space was framed by a view of the water on one side and the Absecon Lighthouse and the familiar casino skyline on the other,” she said. “This year’s Le Diner en Blanc Atlantic City radiated joy, celebrated the community, and showed off everything we love about the city.”
Tickets for next year’s event will be on a first come first serve and will sell out. You will receive an email invitation a few weeks before the event to let you know the date. But don’t forget; they will not tell you the specific location until the day of the event.
All attendees must be 21 or older. Participants are responsible for bringing their own table (28 to 32 inches square) and chairs. You also must bring your own food, china, glassware, cutlery, napery and beverages.
The fee is $96 per table of two plus sales tax and service fees. Plus there is a Diner en Blanc International membership fee of $14 per person applied to your order, but it guarantees you a Phase 1 priority invitation to next year’s event. If you couldn’t make it this year, but want to retain your membership, you can register as an absent member while the registration remains open.
For more information see www.atlanticcity.Dinerenblanc.com. If you have questions, email atlanticcity@Dinerenblanc.com.
Whitney Ullman, Stockton University graduate, and founder of gotowhitney.com is known as a “go to” resource, content creator, reporter, and influencer with established credibility in Atlantic City, The Jersey Shore, Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. With over 6 million views on her social platforms, she created TheCityPulse.com as a go-to lifeline for all things happening in the city!
