Glitter&Gumbo Media will be covering the Essence Festival’s 25th Anniversary being held in New Orleans, Louisiana July 4-7, 2019. We look forward to sharing news onsite about the various events involving some of your favorite musicians, actors, leaders and entrepreneurs.
Whether you’re a first-timer or veteran festival goer, each experience brings a fun and different perspective that only gets better with time. It is my honor and privilege to showcase the amazing adventure participants will partake in this year.
Read on for some informative tips to help you as a guide to the festivities.
What is the Essence Music Festival?
Every year around the 4th of July weekend, women and men from across the country flock to the historically largest festival in the United States. The Essence Music Festival pays tribute to the African-American culture and music, and New Orleans provides the backdrop for a good time filled with delicious food, shopping, concerts, empowerment seminars, and fellowship.
Essence magazine originally developed this event in 1994 as a one-time celebration to honor the 25th anniversary of the publication. Now in the year 2019, this festival tradition is still moving strong 25 years later to celebrate the next generation’s entry into a party with a purpose.
What should I wear?
Depending on your lodging location in New Orleans, there is a lot of walking involved and the heat from the sun will require you to wear sunscreen when needed. In my opinion flat shoes are a must and heels are temporary. Now there’s nothing wrong with wearing heels, however you may not wear them for very long. Therefore you can wear flat shoes while walking to an event and switch to your heels as you enter the venue.
It will definitely be hot and humid in New Orleans. Therefore ladies should bring clothing that is cool, well ventilated, and allows them to move comfortably. Colors are encouraged and an all-white outfit should be in your possession for an unexpected color coordinated party. Men can dress comfortably and fly as well.
Overall, your attire should match your personality with style and grace. Be effortlessly chic during the day and glam it up at night. There will be times when a suit and tie or semi-formal attire can be worn but at the discretion of your choosing or specific to what an event entails.
Transportation/Lodging
For those participants attending from out-of-town, it is better to book a hotel within the New Orleans area that is near downtown or the convention center. The proximity of the festival in this area allows you to walk wherever you need to go. There are times when an Uber or Lyft may come in handy but only if it is absolutely necessary. Due to heavy traffic time periods the cost of shared riding will be quite expensive.
With less than a month away these hotel prices are absolutely insane. A normal $120 hotel per night is averaging around $350-$400 during the Essence Festival weekend. Some hotels are even charging $600-$800. If the price range is out of your budget, there are rooms available at a lower rate in cities on the outskirts of New Orleans.
Essence Festival Registration
Download the Essence Festival app via an Apple or Android device. Upon downloading, this year Essence is asking attendees to register online to attend the free Ernest N. Mortal Covention Center activities. Therefore the app allows you to complete this necessary step in advance. Also, ticket purchases, scheduling, and daily news updates can be accessed via the app.
Essence In The Park
Are you arriving to New Orleans early this week? In honor of the 4th of July holiday and 25th Essence Festival, a free public welcome party will be held at the Armstrong Park Thursday, July 4 from 12:00 – 9:00 PM. Click here-> Essence In The Park to view the lineup and activities scheduled.
Beauty Carnival
Also being held in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is the popular Beauty Carnival Event. This showcase will feature vendors, speakers, and lessons on all things beauty related. Entry is free however attendees can purchase a General Admission Plus or VIP ticket to receive special perks.
Essence After Dark
For the first time in Festival history, a new event segment titled Essence After Dark will showcase an after the Superdome concert vibe featuring acts in the realm of comedy, a podcast, and music. The Essence After Dark programs will be held in venues within New Orleans and not the Convention Center or Superdome. Tickets must be purchased for entry. Visit this link for pricing and to view the lineup.
Essence Concerts
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Some of the greatest award winning musicians and singers will be in attendance to deliver their musical genius to a packed audience. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome will host major concert performances on the main stage. And for the first time in Festival history, our former First Lady, Michelle Obama, will grace the Essence main stage on Saturday, July 6. Everyone with a Saturday concert ticket will witness this historic moment with no added cost.
Behind the scenes music experiences in the Superlounges are a first come, first serve access entry. My best advice for these small intimate performances is to get there early. I encourage everyone to visit at least one Superlounge to feel the magic up-close and fade into the spirit of crowd participation. It is often in the Superlounge where an artist will share their most personal life stories with the audience. This experience reminds me of a neighborhood house party with friends.
You can also purchase tickets for the concerts via the Essence Festival app or the link mentioned here.
Closing Remarks
Although there is a lot more to discuss, leave a comment or send me an email at info@glitterandgumbo.com if you need more tips or Essence Festival general information. Enjoy!
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