Harvest Noir Ottawa’s secret picnic feast + pop-up parade + black tie dance party
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions:
- Recent Questions from Guests:
- How many guests can I seat at my table?
- Will there be port-a-potties available during the picnic?
- What is Harvest Noir?
- When is Harvest Noir?
- Where is Harvest Noir?
- Who is invited?
- Why attend Harvest Noir?
- Where do I register?
- How much does it cost?
- What is the weather like for outdoor picnics in September?
- Can I change my mind and become a Chef de Table after I’ve registered as a regular guest?
- How do we reach 1400 guests?
- When do we find out where we are going?
- Is registration still open?
- What happens if it rains?
- What is your refund policy?
- What about tables and chairs?
- Can we bring our own alcohol?
- Are hats for women or men mandatory?
- Will outdoor heaters be provided? Can I bring anything to heat my food?
- What do I wear?
- What do I bring?
- Where do the proceeds go?
- Who is hosting this event?
- What inspired this event?
- What about Parking?
- What about Car Pooling?
Featured Question:
How many guests can I seat at my table?
Table Captains must invite a minimum of 7 guests, but there is no maximum – invite as many guests as you like! Harvest Noir is all about having a fantastic evening with friends, so to encourage large groups of friends to gather and celebrate together, we will once again be awarding a prize to one lucky Table Captain for the largest number of guests at their table.
Will there be port-a-pottys available during the picnic?
Unfortunately, no, there will be no port-a-potties. I know this might disappoint anyone who enjoys being encased in smelly blue plastic on a hot afternoon. However, there WILL be indoor toilets available for use. Very nice ones, even.
Questions Answered:
Harvest Noir is a chic “dress your best in black” picnic feast celebrating the autumn harvest with food from local farms. It includes many surprises and live musical performances by a dance-oriented parade band, followed by a parade and dance reception with a fabulous DJ, world-class performers and other innovative surprises.
Harvest Noir will take place Sunday September 30 from 4pm-midnight.
The indoor venue is one of the most culturally important spaces in Canada, but we won’t tell you more than that right now – the secret location will be disclosed a few hours prior to the event. Let’s just say that you are going to be very pleased to get to dance in a very special space that you normally have to pay to visit. The picnic portion will be held outdoors in a public place while the reception will be held indoors.
Already registered are members of the media and the food, art and fashion communities.
Harvest Noir is a unique opportunity to dress up creatively and inaugurate a remarkable new tradition with a thousand+ other guests, feast on locally harvested food of our choosing with friends and community, while enjoying fabulous live entertainment, surprises and dance!
Register securely for the guestlist at harvestnoir.ticketleap.com/get-on-the-list/
Please note that we have prepared a ticket-buying step by step guide to help you through the registration process.
To secure your place on the guest list you must purchase a ticket using Paypal. YOU DO NOT NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT FOR PAYMENT – we use Paypal as an easy and secure way to process credit card transactions.
$53, although there are significant discounts available for Table Captains and their groups. As you can imagine, there are great expenses associated with putting on this event – including top-quality DJs, band, and performers, plus rental fee for the indoor and outdoor venue, insurance, advertising, sound system, lighting, cloakroom, security, and tables for the picnic.
What is the weather like for outdoor picnics in September?
The last weekend in September is the start of the peak fall foliage, making it a perfect picnic occasion and we intend to make the most of it! The temperature typically varies from 8°C to 15°C and is rarely below 3°C or above 22°C. The warmest hours of the day are from 1pm to 7pm with the hottest at 4pm, at which time the temperature is above 12°C three days out of four. It may not be freezing, but you’ll want a comfy black sweater or overcoat for the picnic portion of the evening (there will be coat check inside). Ottawa’s September rainfall is the same as during the summer, with 1 days in 3 being rainy on average. So chances are reasonable that Harvest Noir will be rain-free.
Can I change my mind and become a Table Captain after I’ve registered as a regular guest?
Yes. Send us an email at harvestnoir@gmail.com and we’ll see if we can accomodate your new table.
How do we reach 1400 guests?
- Please Like us and ask your guests to like us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/harvestnoir?ref=ts
- Send invitations and this link to the Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0d7STQ7Y3A) to friends, family, acquaintances – anyone with a sense of adventure whose company and conversation you enjoy.
- Follow updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/harvestnoir
- Send us any other creative promotional suggestions as well at harvestnoir@gmail.com
When do we find out where we are going?
We will send an email to all registered guests and attending media at NOON on Sunday Sept 30, disclosing the secret location and providing directions, parking info, etc.
What happens if it rains?
If we encounter light-moderate rain, guests will be encouraged to participate (as in other cities) with umbrellas and rubber boots. (We’re Canadians, a little autumn rain won’t stop us!) In the event of unbearableweather, guests will be advised that the picnic portion of the event is cancelled and we will proceed with the dance reception only but will still include the scheduled picnic entertainment.
What is your refund policy?
We will not be refunding tickets. On the registration form each guest was required to click an “I agree” box in recognition of a few stated terms and conditions which included a no refund policy.
What about tables and chairs?
Tables and chairs will be provided by the event organizers, to make attendance vastly more convenient for our guests. You must still bring a picnic basket, food, and place settings. If you are in free-form seating, you must bring a white table cloth to share with your nearby table-mates. If you are seated with a chef de table, your chef de table must arrange amongst your group of 8 diners to make sure that one of you bring a white table cloth large enough for a 8′x2.5′ table.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
No. We must be very firm on this, as it is a private venue and their security guards may search your picnic basket. There will be a cash bar offering alcohol at the outdoor venue and the indoor venue. You can bring non-alcoholic drinks.
Are hats for women or men mandatory?
No! Naked heads are welcome. We just want people to be as creative and stylish in black as possible, and some of us are deploying interesting hats to accomplish this mission.
Will outdoor heaters be provided? Can I bring anything to heat my food?
No, heating devices of any kind won’t be permitted – except fondue kits that use a simple candle. Camp stoves,etc. don’t really fit the chic picnic ethos and present a fire hazard (I know, having started a fire with one not so long ago). Besides, outdoor people heaters are a huge energy hog. In good weather around 4pm the temperature will likely be hovering between 9 and 11 degrees C – sweater weather. Ladies might want to look into fancy gloves both for the fashion statement and warmth.
What do I wear?
Guests must dress their best in black, head to toe. Be creative, be bold, with a retro-elegant theme wherever possible. Men, tuxedos are not necessary, but you will need to be inventive. Women are welcome to wear ball gowns, cocktail dresses or classy pant suits. Hats are not necessary but also encouraged for men and women! Here is a list of helpful links:
- Fashionable ladies hats: http://www.chapeauxdemadeleine.ca/eng/homepage.htm
- Men’s formal wear: http://www.morrisformalwear.com/
NO Chairs! The hosts will provide the tables and chairs (in other cities guests brought their own).
Table Cloths: Each table of 8 needs to provide a rectangular white table cloth large enough to cover a 8′x2.5′ table. For people seated in “free form” seating, each single or small group of guests must bring a small white table cloth (or a large one folded over).
Place Settings: Diners also bring place settings, crystal/wine glasses, candles, and anything else needed to make the table as elegant and comfortable as possible, coordinated by the chef de table. Please do NOT bring plastic or disposable plates or cups – this is an elegant picnic and real dinnerware is mandatory.
Beverages: You can bring non-alcoholic beverages to the picnic portion only – they will not be allowed in the indoor venue. It’s important to bring your own water - in reusable containers (eg. steel water bottles) if possible to avoid using 100s of plastic bottles. Please, please do NOT try to sneak in alcohol, as there will be a checkpoint where venue security will be checking bags. Just one violation of this rule could spoil the party! Alcohol will be available at cash bars by the bottle and by the glass at both the picnic AND the indoor dance party. We encourage you to pool your resources at your table and buy alcohol by the bottle to cut down on potential line ups at the picnic cash bar.
Food: Preparing your fine dinner at home and toting it to the venue in a picnic basket, to be relished outdoors in the company of other bon vivants is an important part of the European chic picnic tradition. Please bring enough food for yourself. If you have a chef de table, he or she has the option of coordinating food brought by all 8 diners at the table, creating a miniature “potluck”. An introduction to buying local food and tips for seasonal recipes you could bring to Harvest Noir can be found at http://www.harvestnoir.com/local-food-tips/
Lighter: 1 lighter per guest or couple, please. We have a good reason, and it isn’t just for dinner candles.
Tea Towel: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy advises to never travel without a towel. This cardinal rule applies to Harvest Noir, too. If we do end up with rain, you will want to wipe down your chair and table before seating. 1 towel per guest, please.
Picnic Basket: You will need to tote your Harvest Noir adventure gear in an elegant and portable basket or other suitable carrying case. Make sure you protect your dishes and glasses carefully.
A Sense of Adventure: Harvest Noir is all about audience participation – and not just during the picnic portion of the event. Be prepared to have a ton of fun and participate!
After paying the costs of the event, 100% of proceeds will go to BioRegional North America, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate the development of the greenest sustainable communities across Canada and the United States. Learn more here:
What about Car Pooling?
In the interests of trying to lower the environmental footprint of the event, we are encouraging those guests arriving by car to car-pool.