Plans Underway for Essence Fest 25th Year in 2019

Cousins Brenda of Riverdale, Georgia, Tracy of Anniston, Indiana and Connie of Chicago, Illinois all attending the Essence Fest for the first time rocking their purple and gold "Girls Trip" t-shirts, had wanted to attend for a long time. Atlanta based filmmaker Will Packer's "Girls Trip" movie about the annual festival made it the perfect timing to make the trip from different cities across the country like thousands of other women who were inspired by the film that made actress and the film's star Tiffany Haddish famous.

Many "Girlfriends" groups on "Girls Trip" were among the 510,000 who attended the 24th annual July 4th weekend fest in New Orleans due in part to the success of the movie. Plans for the 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola, the 25th, are already underway.

For the first time ever, all three nights of the ESSENCE Festival concert series at the Louisiana Superdome sold out. Essence prides itself for the engagement of Black women around community, culture and content.

“This extraordinary gathering of nearly half a million attendees--on the eve of the ESSENCE Festival’s 25th anniversary--speaks to the unmatched convening power of our culture,” said Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications. “As one of the country’s largest curated live experiences, the ESSENCE Festival engages Black women globally—through a truly unique celebration of culture, connection to community and access to content that inspires and empowers.”

Essence is back to black ownership as Richelieu Dennis former owner of Shea Moisture purchased the Essence publication and brand earlier this year from Time Inc.

The annual Festival features entertainment, empowerment, and cultural experiences during the day and concerts featuring artists at the Superdome and the Ernest Morial Convention Center. Atlanta's Xscape, Janet Jackson, Mary J Blige, Queen Latifah, Jill Scott, The Roots, Teddy Riley, Dave Hollister , Snoop Dog and Erykah Badu are just a few of the many big-name performers on stage this year.

Atlanta's own Dottie Peoples was the focus of the 10thAnniversary All-Star Gospel Tribute. Johnny Gill, Smokie Norful, Kierra Sheard and Regina Belle were some of the artists who sang tributes to the Gospel powerhouse.

Speakers during the empowerment sessions at the Convention Center included Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the first female and first African American female mayor of New Orleans LaToya Cantrell, Georgia Governor Democratic Candidate Stacey Abrams as well as Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Iyanla Vanzant, among others.

Other new additions to the fest this year was an expanded consumer expos such as the ‘Beauty Carnival” and ‘Entertainment All-Access .

Sponsors of the 2018 ESSENCE Festival include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.

Photo by Jerome Dorn, Indahousemedia