Apologies for the title. I couldn’t help myself.
It’s been a busy, fun weekend, one made even better because I took off work on Friday. I went kayaking Friday morning, then in the evening traveled to Columbus to attend the Fête en Blanc.
Loosely translated from French, it means “party in white.” And it’s exactly what it sounds like. A mass picnic, attended by several hundred people, all dressed in white. The atmosphere is relaxed but elegant. Fête-goers supply their own food and picnic paraphernalia. The event organizer, Fête Columbus, provides the venue and the entertainment. The actual location changes each year, and isn’t revealed until the morning of. The story behind the tradition is that, thirty-odd years ago, some friends in Paris decided to throw a picnic in the Bois de Boulogne. Since the park is rather large, they all wore white so as to find each other. This then became an annual tradition, which has since spread all over the world. This was, I believe, the sixth year of Fête Columbus (checked their website; it is).
I had never heard of it until a few weeks ago, when I received the invitation. I wore my finest and only white outfit, sweated under the glare of the sun until it finally set, ate delicious food, managed to not get a single damn thing on me, made the acquaintance of some new friends, and had a ball. I really hope to go again next year.
Photo by the always talented Bill C.
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