Picnic in Paris? Chance to join huge meal on Champs-Elysees

A competition to take part in a huge picnic on the Champs-Elysées in Paris next month - with chef-cooked meals, garden games, and a massive blanket - is now open to entries.

More than 4,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will see a 216-metre-long gingham picnic rug laid from rue Arsène Houssaye to Avenue George V on May 26. 

Guests will attend one of two services, either at 12:00 or 14:00.

The organisers, the Champs-Élysées committee (and its partner LG Electronics), say that the “pedestrian route will include real experiences based around games and activities, built around nine pop-up kitchens”. The meals will be free to attendees.

The picnic could even be recognised by the Guinness World Records, as the event will take place on an unprecedented picnic area of 4,212m².

Each square on the red-and-white-checked blanket will seat up to six people, who will be “lucky epicureans”, the organisers say.

Public invited to apply

For a chance to take part, register on the event website here to be entered in a prize draw. Up to six people from the same family or group of friends can enter for a chance to picnic together.

The results will be announced in May.