Philly’s Dîner en Blanc becomes the largest in the U.S.
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Thousands of people dressed in white, carrying their food and furniture, parade through Chinatown on their way to Dîner en Blanc at Franklin Square Park. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Bystanders on Arch Street watch the parade of white clad people on their way to Dîner en Blanc at Franklin Square Park. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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As the sun sets, diners make their way to Franklin Square Park for the annual Dîner en Blanc at Franklin Square Park. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Franklin Square fills as participants in the annual Dîner en Blanc set up their tables on the grass. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Ayesha Bailey of Philadelphia decorates her table at Dîner en Blanc in Franklin Square Thursday evening. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Diners wave their napkins to mark the start of Dîner en Blanc at Franklin Square. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Keith Grabowski waves his napkin before digging in at the start of Dîner en Blanc at Franklin Square Park Thursday evening. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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With an estimated 5,300 in attendance, the sixth annual Dîner en Blanc was the largest ever held in the United States, according to organizers. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Participants in Dîner en Blanc bring their own tables, chairs, food, wine and tableware. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Acrobat Robert Li lifts Brittany Albertson near the Franklin Square fountain during Dîner en Blanc Thursday evening. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Diners ride the carousel in Franklin Square Thursday evening during the sixth annual Dîner en Blanc. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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Diners ride the carousel in Franklin Square Thursday evening during the sixth annual Dîner en Blanc. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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As evening deepens and lights come up, participants in the sixth annual Dîner en Blanc take time for photos. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
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The sixth annual Dîner en Blanc came to Franklin Square Thursday evening. With an estimated 5,300 in attendance it was the largest Diner en Blanc event ever held in the United States. (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks)
More than 5,000 white-clad diners wheeled tables, chairs and coolers into Franklin Square Thursday evening for the sixth annual Dîner en Blanc.
Lines of diners filled entire city blocks before the secret location was revealed. It was the largest iteration of the event to take place in the U.S., organizers said.
Shortly after arriving at Franklin Square, Ayesha Bailey of Philadelphia — a first-timer at the event — carefully prepared her table decor of white trees adorned with hanging candles in glass orbs.
As dinner began, Keith Grabowski and the rest of his party spun their napkins over their heads before digging in, while other groups gathered around to watch acrobat Robert Li lift diner Brittany Albertson above his head without breaking a sweat in the August heat.
Throughout the dinner, the carousel at Franklin Square was put to good use with hourly “races,” being held for prizes and long lines of diners looking to ride just for fun.
Dîner en Blanc is now held in 70 cities around the world. In Philadelphia, it has taken place at Logan Circle, Broad Street, the JFK Bridge, the Navy Yard and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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