le 12 juin 2026
Bonjour mes chers amis, June is unfolding beautifully in the capital. After last week’s extraordinary heat followed by dramatic downpours, the city seems to have settled into the rhythm that Parisians wait for all year long. Gardens are lush, café terraces are full, and the social calendar is moving into one of its most exciting stretches of the season.
As always, I’m happy to share a few of the happenings that caught my eye this week—events and experiences I would happily add to my own calendar and that capture the kind of everyday beauty and culture I love most about France.
One of France’s most enchanting traditions receives a fairy tale setting this week with the Pique-nique en Blanc at the Château de Chantilly. Guests dressed entirely in white gather on the grounds of the magnificent château for an elegant open-air dinner. Long tables, candlelight, flowers, and carefully packed picnics create a scene that feels wonderfully French—and wonderfully romantic.
I’ve attended the Picnic en Blanc myself and had a wonderful time, which I highlighted in today’s photo. There is something magical about spending an evening in such a beautiful setting, surrounded by hundreds of elegantly dressed guests celebrating the arrival of summer. It remains one of my favorite memories from Chantilly.
Tea lovers will want to make their way to the Grand Palais for the Paris Tea Festival on June 13 and 14. Exhibitors from around the world will showcase rare teas, artisanal blends, and tea culture traditions. Whether you are already devoted to afternoon tea or simply curious, this promises to be a delightful sensory experience beneath one of Paris’s most beautiful glass roofs.
Few evenings sound more magical than La Nuit Étoilée at the Ritz Paris, taking place from June 13 through 15. The experience begins with Louis Roederer Champagne and petits fours served in the hotel’s French-style Grand Jardin. As night falls, approximately 300 guests gather for an open-air performance combining opera and classical ballet beneath the stars. It is exactly the sort of Parisian evening that reminds us why the city has inspired artists, writers, and dreamers for centuries.
On June 14, the Prix de Diane returns to Chantilly. Perhaps the most glamorous horse race in France, the event transforms the estate into a celebration of elegance and style. Think beautiful hats, flowing dresses, picnics on the grass, and some of the country’s finest thoroughbred racing. Often described as France’s answer to Royal Ascot, it remains one of the highlights of the French summer social season.
I’ve attended the Prix de Diane myself and can attest that the atmosphere is every bit as charming as one imagines. Between the fashion, the excitement of the races, and the extraordinary setting of Chantilly, it is a quintessentially French experience and one of the loveliest ways to spend a June afternoon.
Having experienced both the Picnic en Blanc and the Prix de Diane over the years, I’ve come to think of Chantilly in June as one of the most magical moments of the French social calendar.
#ICYMI
Earlier this week, I shared a post What Makes the Marais So Special. Once a marshland outside the city walls, the Marais evolved into one of Paris’s most elegant neighborhoods before becoming the vibrant district we know today. From grand hôtels particuliers and hidden gardens to independent boutiques and cafés, its enduring charm lies in the way centuries of history coexist with modern Parisian life.
For a bit of nostalgia, let’s take a look back at my Prix de Diane post from June 2009. It was such a great day and that featured some truly extraordinary hat.
xoxo, Jeannine
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