By Bethany Culp
The Essence Music Festival takes place each summer in
New Orleans, Louisiana. Organizers of this weekend of music, seminars and events call the festival the largest African American empowerment and music celebration in the
United States.
History
The Essence Music Festival began as a celebration of "Essence" magazine's 25th anniversary in 1995. In 2006, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Festival was held in Houston, Texas, but returned to New Orleans in 2007.
Dates
The Essence Music Festival is a three-day event held over the 4th of July weekend each summer.
Location
All of the festivals concerts and events take place in New Orleans. Concerts are held in the New Orleans Superdome, while seminars and exhibits are presented in the Ernst N. Morial Convention Center.
Concerts
Each night of the three-day festival features musical performances at the Superdome. Popular acts such as Beyonce, Lionel Richie and Frankie Beverly and Maze perform on the main stage, while smaller and regional acts perform in the Dome's four Superlounges.
Seminars
Educational and empowerment seminars with speakers such as Bill Cosby and Steve Harvey are held during the festival's daytime hours. Seminars are open to the public and free of charge.
About the Author:
Based in New Orleans, Bethany Culp has been a freelance writer since 2004. She enjoys researching and writing about a variety of topics, including travel and outdoor adventure. Her work has been published on numerous websites including USAToday.com. Culp holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Loyola University New Orleans.
