Essence Music Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Essence Music Festival |
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En Vogue performing on the main stage at the Essence Music Festival
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| Genre | R&B • Soul • Funk • Gospel • Blues • Hip-Hop • Jazz • Reggae • New Jack Swing |
| Dates | 4 July weekend |
| Location(s) | Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Years active | 1995–2019, 2021 (virtual)– |
| Attendance | 500,000 |
| Website | Essence.com |
The Essence Festival, also known as "the party with a purpose", is a big music event held every year. It began in 1995 as a special one-time celebration. This event marked the 25th birthday of Essence magazine. This magazine is mostly for African-American women.
The festival quickly grew to become the largest event in the United States that celebrates African-American culture and music. People in New Orleans often call it the Essence Fest. It has been held in New Orleans, Louisiana, since 1995. However, it moved to Houston, Texas, in 2006 because of Hurricane Katrina's effect on New Orleans. The festival was also cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar festival was also held in Durban, South Africa, in November 2016. The festival has many artists performing at the same time. They play on a main stage and also on four smaller "superlounge" stages.
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About the Essence Festival
The Essence Festival is a huge celebration of music and culture. It brings together many different music styles. You can hear R&B, Soul, Funk, Gospel, Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Reggae, and New Jack Swing. The festival is known for its exciting live performances.
How the Festival Grew
For many years, a special team produced the festival. But in 2008, Essence Communications took over. They own the festival and Essence magazine. They hired a new company, Rehage Entertainment Inc., to help run the event. Later, in 2013, Solomon Group became the main producer of the Essence Festival.
Media Coverage and Special Events
The Essence Festival has become a big event for media. In 2013, MSNBC news channel broadcast live from the festival. They returned again for the 2014 festival. This helped share the excitement of the festival with even more people.
Recent Years and Changes
The year 2020 was different for the festival. It had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the festival quickly found a way to continue. In 2021, the 26th festival happened virtually, meaning online. This allowed people to enjoy the music and culture from home. Essence announced that the festival would return as a live event in 2022. The Walt Disney Company became a sponsor for its return.
Essence Festival in Movies
The festival has even been featured in movies! Much of the 2017 film Girls Trip was filmed during the 2016 festival. Over 5,000 background actors were part of the movie. Some scenes were filmed later to make sure they looked just like the festival.
See also
- List of hip hop music festivals
- List of blues festivals
- Hip hop culture
