Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n
Philadelphia\u2019s 14th edition of D\u00eener en Blanc \u2014 the annual picnic where participants wear white and bring their own food, chairs, and tables to a surprise location announced just hours before the event \u2014 was set to take place Thursday night. But severe weather predicted for this evening changed those plans. This is the first time the event has ever been canceled.<\/p>\n
D\u00eener en Blanc organizers had sent an email update to ticketed participants this morning. According to the email, organizers \u201care closely monitoring the weather and are in active discussions with the city, venue, and weather services. We are carefully evaluating the conditions, and we will keep you posted as we learn more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before 4 p.m., they issued a statement on Instagram that read: \u201cWe are devastated to inform you that amid weather-related concerns and after discussions with the city, weather services, venue, and vendors, we will not be moving forward with tonight\u2019s D\u00eener en Blanc Philadelphia 2026. The decision to cancel was not made lightly, as we know how much time, excitement, and effort go into this event on the guest side. The safety of our guests, volunteers, and vendors is of the utmost importance. The current weather forecast for lightning, high winds, flash flooding, hail, and tornado threat makes it impossible for us to proceed as planned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s forecast called for heavy rain and flash foods between 1 and 10 p.m.<\/a><\/p>\n D\u00eener en Blanc<\/a> has traditionally been a rain-or-shine event. \u201cWe\u2019ve definitely partied through the rain!\u201d said Kate Marlys, the PR representative for Philadelphia\u2019s D\u00eener en Blanc.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Navy Yard year<\/a> [2015] had rain, and we were still able to continue with the event. The year we were at Boathouse Row<\/a> [2019], there was a severe storm with lightning that came through during the event, and we did have to end the event early that year,\u201d said Marlys, who said the forecast for Thursday night seemed more severe than in previous years.<\/p>\n In the past, rain did not deter table leaders \u2014 who meet 50 other attendees apiece at predetermined locations throughout the city to help navigate setting up tables, then collect all trash and belongings at the end of the night \u2014 like Candy Rathsmill, 71, who has so far attended all but one of Philadelphia\u2019s D\u00eener en Blanc occurrences.<\/p>\n \u201cRain makes it uncomfortable but it brings a new dimension to the experience,\u201d said Rathsmill. \u201cWhen it rained at the Navy Yard, my plate filled up with water and I couldn\u2019t eat my food, but this year I\u2019m prepared.\u201d <\/p>\n She was planning on wearing white sneakers instead of sandals, and packing a poncho and a plastic tablecloth to layer on top of her white linen one. \u201cIt\u2019s always fun to be soaking wet and wearing white,\u201d she joked. \u201cAnd I bring everything in white trash bags.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven when it rains, it\u2019s a celebration of life. It\u2019s the best party I\u2019ve ever gone to.\u201d<\/p>\n