Close to 2,000 people filled the floor of BC Place Stadium during the 11th  event Thursday evening, Aug. 15.

Invited guests dress in white for the annual "pop-up picnic," a global gathering that celebrates food, friendship and fashion.

Attendees bring their own table, chairs and picnic basket, or can pre-order a gourmet meal from a catering menu.  plus $14 membership, which doesn't include food.

The location for D卯ner en Blanc is kept secret until hours before the event.

"It's about food, community, culture, music, entertainment," raved Aly Armstrong, who produces the Vancouver event.

"I know this is a lot of pomp and circumstance and we're here at BC Place, which is quite epic, but the true essence is for this to be a large pop-up picnic. The location is secret until moments before, a lot of people bring in their own tables and chairs. It's a really unique, special experience and it is really about community, friends dining together, having amazing music, food, breaking bread together. That is the true essence of this event."

Thursday, musicians with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performed as guests mingled in the stadium.

"This is a new venue, and we only have so many larger outdoor areas to host this event, so there might be some repeats in the future, we'll have to see," Armstrong explained. 

"Essentially we have to hold it close to public transportation because that's how a lot of our guests get here, on SkyTrain, and it has to be within 850 metres of a SkyTrain stop. We don't want people to walk too far, it's mandated. So that does limit us obviously to the central city area. I think once the SkyTrain line is complete up Broadway, that may open up a whole realm of venues."

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim helped kick off the festivities, which included photo-ops aplenty and beverage service at several bars.

produced the Vancouver event for a second year, after taking over from . This year's event sponsors included Glowbal Restaurant Group, Bosa Development, Loungeworks/A&B Partytime Rentals, Lux Affairs, Villa Maria and Taittinger. 

"Our sponsors do get some sponsor treatment here," Armstrong noted. "That's where you're seeing these special groups because they have really contributed to this event, so that's one of the perks that they're offered. But people can bring in their own picnics or they can pre-order our gourmet food boxes from our preferred caterer and pick those up on site. So it's really a create-your-own-experience."