City Picnic: A colorful day in the sun

Beirut: Last weekend, no weather forecast was needed, since City Picnic brought its own sunshine with a lot of smiles.

For the second time in a row, Mindwhisk events organized Lebanon’s largest picnic, but this time, it was a beach edition on the Plage des Rois, Byblos.

Roula Mezher, managing director of Mindwhisk events, told Annahar the purpose behind this event.

“People love the idea of picnics; and this year, we decided to take our picnic to the beach. They enjoyed the picnic mood along with water activities,” Mezher said. 

By Saturday morning, Plage des Rois was thronged with people who spent the day with their families, friends, and dogs. To ensure a safe tan, they were welcomed with free samples of sunscreen.

Due to the large scale of the site, signs were available every step of the way to direct people according to their preferences.

However, City Picnic wasn’t just a picnic.

It was a runway for young men and women to flaunt their sculpted beach bodies attired in the latest line of colorful swimsuits. Furthermore, a dog park was provided for dogs to play off-leash under the supervision of their owners, and the event featured a platform for performers who danced to the sound of adrenaline-pumping music.

Some people chose this day to relax, lie on the grass or sand and tan, while others preferred swimming and chasing the beach waves.

In the pool, people of all ages said it was an inflatable dreamland, as they plunked down on blowup pink flamingo, or unicorns, fruits, and emoticons.

“Instagram will be bombarded today with the number of pictures taken at City Picnic. It’s an event worth capturing, especially with the famous pink flamingo present,” said Nada Azar, as she hopped on an inflatable flamingo to take a selfie.

Next to the pool, giant Lego blocks were available for children to build their virtual dream house in a memorable location.

In the afternoon, Djs hit the stage energizing people with their music and adding an artistic touch to the ambiance.

Ross, one of the Djs, emphasized the significance of music at such an event.

“City Picnic was a chance for people to gather from all around Lebanon, embrace their diversity and communicate through music and dancing; giving the event a positive force,” he told Annahar.

As stomachs started growling, people rushed to get sizzling meals from the food stands on the site. Eats included hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, salads; and snacks; with cold fruits, ice cream, crepes and other sweets, along with cold drinks, all ready to serve.

Fueled up, attendees headed to enjoy the activities available, such as soap soccer, table football, and tire swings.

Later, at the bar, many partygoers were mesmerized by the sunset, as they sipped on fruity cocktails, wishing this day would never end.

Luckily, the end was just the beginning of another day on the site. Since tents were available, picnic campers had a good night sleep with a summer breeze wafting through the Plage and the murmuring of waves singing them a lullaby.

On Sunday, more fun was embarked upon.

 “My friends and I came all the way from Aramoun to celebrate this event. This year’s edition is more exciting since it involves the beach in Byblos, one of the most beautiful cities in Lebanon,” said partier Majd Sweid. “We have become part of the City Picnic family, and every moment here a great memory.”