BATON ROUGE – After a two-year hiatus, the Essence Festival of Culture returns to New Orleans at full strength this holiday weekend. Now in its 27th year, Essence Fest is the nation’s largest music festival, regularly drawing more than half a million visitors to the city. Councilman Oliver Thomas says there’s no way to overstate its importance for the city and state.
“It’s B-I-G in capital letters now; that’s how big it is now,” said Thomas. “Especially coming out of the pandemic and coming through all of the other economic issues that debilitated and crippled the tourism community.”
New Orleans has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons lately, with concerns over crime and city services. Thomas says this is an opportunity for “The Crescent City” to send a message to the nation that it remains one of America’s premier cultural destinations.
“We’re open, we’re safe, and we value your visitation,” he said. “We value you appreciating our culture, our famous brand of entertainment, and how we host people.”
This year’s headliners include comedian Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, and New Edition. Attendees will also be able to attend seminars, shop local vendors, and participate in both in-person and virtual events at the Morial Convention Center. Thomas says the star power is unmatched.
“No matter who you are…the lineup, the access to power sessions, the culture, the attention to detail, the acts…it is second to none,” Thomas added.
Festival organizers say that all attendees are required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination for admission. Essence Fest starts tonight and ends Sunday.
Comments