I’m sure we’ve all heard of Le Dîner en Blanc or, at the very least, seen our social media feeds fill with photos of friends dressed in white at a fabulous picnic. Le Dîner en Blanc began three decades ago in Paris and has grown to more than 80 cities worldwide with more than 130,000 guests. Participation is either by personal referral or waitlist; the location changes annually and is a secret, even to attendees, until the last moment.

I’ll be attending the Philadelphia Le Dîner en Blanc this year for the first time, partaking in the Sofitel en Blanc offer. For the first time ever, the hotel company has been named the official luxury hotel partner for the event, and now guests in six North American cities can skip carting the tables, chairs and more to enjoy an exclusive experience at the already exclusive event.

The Sofitel en Blanc All-Inclusive Luxury package, available to a limited number of attendees, includes a welcome Champagne toast at Sofitel, luxury transport to a preferred departure point, an elegant tablescape (pre-set, no carrying required), a gourmet menu and selection of fine wines, an evening of revelry and dancing and a few special surprises. For attendees who would like to stay at Sofitel following the event, the hotel offers an event-exclusive rate of 20 percent off and complimentary breakfast.

Tickets are sold in pairs, and pricing varies from city to city. For those who would like to join the Philadelphia event on Aug. 16, a pair costs $600. The offer is also available in Chicago (Aug. 23); Los Angeles (Sept. 29); Montréal (Aug. 16); New York City (TBD); and Washington, D.C. (Aug. 25).

Coming soon, Sofitel and Dîner en Blanc International will launch a #SofitelenBlanc sweepstakes, open until Dec. 31. Participants will have the chance to win a trip for two to Paris or any Sofitel destination in North America. Stay tuned.

— Kimberly Krol, editor in chief