ESSENCE Communications, Inc., recently announced its 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture Unbeatable Daytime and Nighttime Experiences Presented by Coca-Cola. Taking place June 30- July 3 (Thursday-Sunday), this multi-day experience of programming will be sure to entertain, empower, inspire, and educate. Simultaneously, the virtual presence will continue to extend to ESSENCE’s dedicated global audience and feature their own virtual host, performances, summits, panels and more including leading musical artists, influencers, and experts from around the world.
“As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture is a staple that celebrates community and empowers equity,” says ESSENCE CEO Caroline Wanga. “We are excited to welcome the family back live to New Orleans and thrilled to connect with more of our diasporic family through new digital experiences. Whether it be those that have three years of outfits reflective of the Festival tradition that was disrupted by the pandemic, or those who will have their inaugural Festival experience in 2022, all are invited to immerse in the crown jewel of culture known as the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
The 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture will feature a global ensemble of performers; and with more announcements on the horizon, ESSENCE will also deliver diverse day experiences including ESSENCE GU Day of Service, the new ESSENCE Eats: Food and Wine Festival, ESSENCE Beauty Carnival, ESSENCE Studios Center Stage, ESSENCE Studios Fan Zone, ESSENCE Media Row, ESSENCE Community Corner, ESSENCE Authors, the new ESSENCE Tech Summit, ESSENCE Marketplace, ESSENCE Get Lifted: Gospel Celebration, the new ESSENCE In His Zone: Men’s Experience, the new ESSENCE Film Festival, ESSENCE House, ESSENCE E-SUITE, ESSENCE Health Hub, ESSENCE Wellness House, ESSENCE Wealth & Power featuring Global Black Economic Conversations and the ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum.
In addition to the evening concert series, the evening experiences will include ESSENCE Eats: The Let-Out Edition and ESSENCE AFTER DARK.
Festival orgnizers are especially excited about the retrun of the live festival to the New Orleans.
“Our almost three-decade relationship with the City of New Orleans has been critical to the fiber of the Festival and we fully recognize and appreciate the City and its citizens for all they do to create memorable experiences for all attendees,” Wagna says.
The last live Essence Festival was held in New Orleans in 2019, drawing more than 500,000 visitors to the city with an economic impact of more than $300 million.
Organizers expect to see an equal or greater showing this year as well, with a focus on ensuring that Black-owned businesses feel the impact.
‘”It is critical that we understand that what we deliver with this Festival—live and virtually—also impacts Black economic inclusion,” says Wanga. “The ability to have those that benefit from this be Black businesses is my favorite manifestation of our 2022 Festival theme, ‘It’s The Black Joy for Me.’ See you in July.”