Open-Air Picnic At Champs-Élysées Attempts To Modify Image Of This Historic Edifice

Paris's most famous boulevard, the Champs-Elysees, is gearing up to host a massive open-air picnic on Sunday. This initiative aims to breathe new life into the iconic street, renowned for its luxury boutiques and restaurants. Nearly 273,000 people applied for the event, but only 4,000 were selected to participate in the "le grand piquenique." Each attendee can invite up to six additional guests, choosing between two sittings at noon or 2:00 pm.

Reinventing Champs-Élysées

A striking 216-meter-long red-and-white chequered rug, dubbed the "world's largest tablecloth," will adorn the picnic area. This unique tablecloth, crafted from 25 pieces of recycled fiber, will be assembled on site by a team of 150 people. The picnic will feature free packed meals from eight partner restaurants, offering a diverse array of culinary delights.

Marc-Antoine Jamet, President of the Champs-Élysées Committee, emphasised that the event's goal is to demonstrate the boulevard's versatility beyond high-end shopping. "We want to show that the Champs-Elysees is not only for luxury but also a place for everyone to enjoy," he stated, citing media reports. 

This isn't the first time the Champs-Élysées Committee has organized a large-scale public event. In 2023, they transformed the avenue into an open-air mass dictation competition, bringing together thousands of participants in an attempt to break the world record for the largest spelling competition.

Despite its status as a top tourist attraction, the Champs-Elysees has seen a decline in local patronage in recent years. The upcoming closure of the historic UGC Normandie cinema, a fixture since 1937, highlights this trend. To address these challenges, the Champs-Elysees Committee is preparing to present an extensive 1,800-page study on potential strategies to revitalize the boulevard. This picnic is one of the many innovative efforts aimed at reengaging both locals and tourists with this historic Parisian landmark.