ABOUT ESSENCE FESTIVAL
ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ Presented by Coca-Cola® officially kicked off its 29th annual celebration in New Orleans yesterday. ESSENCE Festival is the nation’s largest festival by per-day attendance. The four-day event combines showstopping music performances with can’t-miss inspirational speakers – conversations about everything from wellness to economic development to politics to film to beauty.
DAY ONE OF ESSENCE FEST
Day one of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola® kicked off with Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans and ESSENCE Ventures President & CEO Caroline Wanga and the executive leadership team. “Last year…over 176,000 attended per day, over 500,000 visitors. Make no mistake the economic impact on our city,” New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell stated during Thursday morning’s press conference. “Over 300 million directly impacted…the small businesses, the backbone of our city…being able to activate them in ways that we haven’t seen before.”
Hakeem Holmes, the newly appointed VP of the ESSENCE Festival (and a fellow New Orleans native), shared that they will be paying tribute to deceased New Orleans rappers during this weekend’s Evening Concert Series. On Friday, they will honor 5th Ward Weebie, Soulja Slim on Saturday, and Magnolia Shorty on Sunday.
After the press conference, the celebrations continued throughout the day with the Global Black Economic Forum™, which featured an invite-only Access and Opportunity Summit. Following the Summit, the 2023 Essence Ventures Media Upfront took place at The Fillmore. There was a panel discussion, as well as a special musical performance by Robin Thicke.
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND
Even if you’ve attended ESSENCE Festival in the past, get ready. They’ve taken this year’s festival to a whole nother level. For the first time ever, the festival is taking up the entirety of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Throughout the Convention Center, ESSENCE will have various experiences including a Studios Film Festival, BeautyCon, a Community Corner, a Wellness House, Gospel Celebration, Food & Wine Festival, and more. Here are some things you don’t want to miss this weekend downtown!
- Soko NO.LA™ powered by ESSENCE will host several Black-owned retail and food vendors, in one location during the festival to celebrate and showcase upwards of fifty local Black businesses.
- ESSENCE Girls United Creators House™ is the place to be. It’s all about self-expression and creativity. Throughout the weekend, they will have a myriad number of celebrity speakers and appearances from India Love, London Zhiloh, Tasha McCaskiel, DJ Spinelli, Antoine Gregory, and more!
- The Global Black Economic Forum is all about trailblazers making history. TV host and actress Sherri Sheppard, Abbott Elementary actors Sheryl Lee Ralph and Tyler James Williams, as well as Reverend Al Sharpton, will be in attendance this weekend. And for the second year in a row, Vice President Kamala Harris and senior Biden-Harris Administration officials will be discussing ongoing efforts to advance equity and opportunity for Black Americans and communities across the country!
- ESSENCE Family Day™: The Block Party will celebrate our forever home of New Orleans, right in the heart of the oldest Black neighborhood in the United States, Tremé. On Monday, July 3rd, ESSENCE is hosting the ultimate family reunion at Armstrong Park. The block party will feature local vendors plus performances by the Soul Rebels, Big Freedia, and many more.
Stay up to date by downloading the all-in-one ESSENCE experience app to access our free daytime experiences in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, special deals, exclusive content, and tailored schedules across a range of interests from music, wellness, and films to economic empowerment.
THE EVENING CONCERT SERIES
And like so many brands and organizations, ESSENCE is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop! Throughout the weekend, ESSENCE will be showcasing how hip-hop has impacted every aspect of global culture while bringing some of the biggest names in hip-hop to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome every night.
This year’s lineup includes:
- Ms. Lauryn Hill will be giving a special 25th-anniversary performance of her five-time Grammy Award-winning album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” on Friday night.
- ESSENCE’s July 2023 cover star, 2019 MTV VMA Video Vanguard Recipient, and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee, Missy Elliot is taking the stage Saturday night.
- Houston native and three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Megan Thee Stallion is headlining on Sunday night.
- Doug E. Fresh will be curating a special performance of hip-hop pioneers.
- In honor of So So Def’s 30th anniversary, Grammy award-winning super producer and label founder, Jermaine Dupri, has a special performance in store with some of the biggest names in hip-hop to come out of Atlanta.
- Other artists taking the stage throughout the weekend are Wizkid, Monica, Coco Jones, Janelle Monae, Tems, and more.
Not visiting New Orleans and still want to experience all the fun? Hulu is returning again as the festival’s Official Streaming Destination. Each night starting today, Friday, June 30th subscribers will have access to ‘exclusive virtual-only content and highlights from daytime experiences’, as well as performances from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Megan Thee Stallion, and more.
THE PARTY CONTINUES
The party doesn’t end with the Evening Concert Series. Here is a list of activities and events happening around the city for the night owls.
- AFROPUNK Krewe Ball: At the Joy Theater from 10 PM to 2:00 AM, AFROPUNK is taking over. Each night features secret performances, celebrity DJ sets, and more. Standard tickets are $25. VIP is $80.
- The Girls United Kickback: The ‘auntie-free zone’ is an after-party for the next generation filled with TikTok-worthy moments and a vibe you won’t get anywhere else. Standard tickets are $15. VIP is $80. If you missed it Thursday, there’s another one on Saturday from 10 PM to 2 AM at The Sugar Mill.
- Club Quarantine Live After Dark: ESSENCE and award-winning artist, DJ, and producer D-Nice are bringing Club Quarantine offline for three nights at the Fillmore New Orleans starting at 11 PM. Celebrate music, life, and love in New Orleans. Tickets start at $65.
Stay up to date with all things Essence Fest by following NOLA Concerts on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
NOLA Concerts 