Once again, Essence continues to strive towards higher heights in the pinnacle of excellence for the production of their annual event that is always the talk of the local, national, and global atmosphere. The 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca Cola attracted more than half a million attendees to New Orleans during the Fourth of July weekend (July 4-7). Judging by the long lines and huge crowds I am not surprised by this data.
FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) was at an all-time high for me at this year’s 25th milestone anniversary celebration. There were so many things to do and so little time. All of your favorite television stars, designers, music artists, 2020 Presidential Candidates, entrepreneurs, and more were definitely in New Orleans. ESSENCE always draws a crowd of celebrities who feel right at home and love giving back to their fans.
So in honor of this momentous occasion I would like to highlight my top 10 ESSENCE Festival 25th Anniversary moments and/or events.
1.) Forever First Lady Michelle Obama
For the first time in Essence Festival history, Forever First Lady Michelle Obama made a headline appearance at the Superdome. CBS “This Morning” co-host Gayle King moderated the discussion of all things “Becoming” based off of Michelle Obama’s memoir that has touched the lives of so many women across the world. The viral quote that shook everyone in their “Ain’t I A Woman?” boots is when she said, “My husband is my teammate and if we’re gonna win this game together, he has to be strong and he has to be okay with my being strong. I do not want a weak team player on my team and neither does he.” All wigs were snatched and laid to rest after that statement! Forever First Lady shut it down with her words of wisdom.
2.) Essence After Dark Series
As an inaugural event this year for the 25th anniversary celebration ESSENCE introduced an After Dark Series that took place from 10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. for an added activity bonus. And to be truthfully honest, ESSENCE did their thing and presented some fabulous programming in the form of comedy shows, podcasts, and musical excursions. I had the esteemed pleasure of covering the Women In Hip-Hop Presented By MC Lyte celebrating female lyricists and the Herlarious Comedy Show Presented By Kym Whitley highlighting women comedians. Both events blew me away and I was extremely impressed. I look forward to seeing these events in the future.
3.) Superdome Performances
Being invited to perform on the Superdome Main Stage or Superlounge is an extreme honor within itself. Festival attendees look forward to hearing artists share the music that has influenced us all through the years. Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, and MAZE & Frankie Beverly always give extraordinary performances.
4.) Phenomenal Branded Experiences
McDonald’s offered the Ernest N. Morial attendees free food, AT&T had empowering panel sessions on the #DreamInBlack stage, Disney showcased their upcoming films and popular television shows with amazing activations, Coca Cola offered free coke and energizing karaoke performances, Walmart gave away ‘Reign On” crowns and bags, and so much more! It was quite a challenge to reach all of the stations in the convention center however, we had a blast maneuvering through it all.
5.) Seven 2020 Presidential Candidates Utilized The ESSENCE Festival Platform
The Essence Festival is known for being the largest gathering of Black Women in the nation, and it is critical and vital for the 2020 Presidential Candidates to address our demographic if they truly desire to lead our country. The following were in attendance to give significant keynote addresses in regards to their campaign mission: Senator Michael Bennett, Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Kamala Harris, Former Representative Beto O’Rourke, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Festival attendees were eager to hear the candidates and their stance on important issues within the Black community.
6.) POWER Season 6 Cast
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was rocking when the cast of STARZ television series, POWER came out to discuss Season 6 the Final Betrayal before an enthusiastic audience. STARZ released the new trailer right before our very eyes, and all heads were looking up in amazement at the juiciness and drama that will unfold.
7.) Beauty Carnival
ESSENCE set up the Beauty Carnival area with a gorgeous stage featuring prominent celebrities sharing their secrets to success. Attendees were fortunate to get up close and personal with some of their favorite beauty brands too.
8.) Essence Festival Vendors
One thing I really love about the ESSENCE Festival is walking down the vendor aisles to behold unique products and services that are unmatched. It is truly hard to walk away from a profound piece of artwork, or show stopping T-shirt, or jewelry that is one-of-a-kind. My bank account looks at me strange when I attempt to bite off more than I can chew. In the end, I am extremely satisfied with my selections.
9.) Essence In The Park
In honor of the Fourth of July being held right before the ESSENCE Festival doors officially opened, the local community and ESSENCE attendees could partake in outdoor activities at the Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. Although it was hot, the beauty of this park and the energy felt by everyone made it all worthwhile.
10.) Essence Festival Name Officially Changed
Ladies and gentleman, the name we’ve all grown to love is now transitioning to a new descriptive and impactful level. Let us embrace the “ESSENCE Festival of Culture” for the 2019-2020 preparation season. ESSENCE Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ebanks stated, “In honor of us embodying all that Black excellence and culture represent – beyond entertainment and beauty, we were thrilled to reveal the Festival’s official rebrand to the ‘ESSENCE Festival of Culture,’ with a mission to inform, inspire and uplift Black women and provide a holistic approach to how we offer and deliver Black culture in every way.”
