Patience Wall
Last Friday, I was able to attend the 2014 Essence Festival in New Orleans, and I can truly say that it was an amazing experience. For those of you who may not know, Essence is a prominent African-American magazine that features articles on a varying range of topics from politics to fashion to how tos on success. My mom has always been a fan of Essence: At home, she always has an issue on the living room table, so over the years, I have also become very familiar with the magazine. So when I got the chance to attend a festival thrown by that very magazine for free, I jumped at the opportunity.
New Orleans is home to the annual Essence Festival each summer. The festival brings an impressive line-up of celebrities and inspirational speakers. This year’s festival featured speakers such as Steve Harvey, Alicia Keys, Soledad O’Brien, Terrence J, Bishop TD Jakes, Robin Roberts, and the list goes on. The speakers compose the festival’s Empowerment sessions. These sessions include advice and suggestions on how to promote success, healthy living, and inspiration within ourselves and our communities, and what makes it even greater is that this “Empowerment Experience” lasts an entire weekend!
In addition to the wonderful exposure to some of America’s top artists and entrepreneurs, the festival is also packed with stands by corporate promoters. What does that mean for festival goers? Giveaways, prizes, and merchandise. Or as I like to call it ‘Bags on Bags on Bags.’ Companies like State Farm, Colgate, McDonalds’, and Coca-Cola give away Essence themed bags with the company’s logo on them. Some of these bags are packed with nice goodies like manicure sets, coupons, earphones, and free toiletries, but if you’re really lucky, you’ll win an extra stuffed bag from some of the promoters if your name is drawn. Sadly, I didn’t win any of the loaded prize bags, but I did receive others bags from the stands.
What I also loved about being at the festival was that it gave me a chance to hang out with a new friend that I met here in New Orleans. We had a great time going to the sessions and finding ways to get the bags without standing in line for an hour ;) Honestly, it was one of my favorite weekends here in the city. I hope to bring my mom to the festival in the future. They also throw nightly concerts in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with artists like Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Prince, Janelle Monae, etc. I think my mom would really enjoy the performances and the empowerment sessions.
New Orleans is home to the annual Essence Festival each summer. The festival brings an impressive line-up of celebrities and inspirational speakers. This year’s festival featured speakers such as Steve Harvey, Alicia Keys, Soledad O’Brien, Terrence J, Bishop TD Jakes, Robin Roberts, and the list goes on. The speakers compose the festival’s Empowerment sessions. These sessions include advice and suggestions on how to promote success, healthy living, and inspiration within ourselves and our communities, and what makes it even greater is that this “Empowerment Experience” lasts an entire weekend!
In addition to the wonderful exposure to some of America’s top artists and entrepreneurs, the festival is also packed with stands by corporate promoters. What does that mean for festival goers? Giveaways, prizes, and merchandise. Or as I like to call it ‘Bags on Bags on Bags.’ Companies like State Farm, Colgate, McDonalds’, and Coca-Cola give away Essence themed bags with the company’s logo on them. Some of these bags are packed with nice goodies like manicure sets, coupons, earphones, and free toiletries, but if you’re really lucky, you’ll win an extra stuffed bag from some of the promoters if your name is drawn. Sadly, I didn’t win any of the loaded prize bags, but I did receive others bags from the stands.
What I also loved about being at the festival was that it gave me a chance to hang out with a new friend that I met here in New Orleans. We had a great time going to the sessions and finding ways to get the bags without standing in line for an hour ;) Honestly, it was one of my favorite weekends here in the city. I hope to bring my mom to the festival in the future. They also throw nightly concerts in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with artists like Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Prince, Janelle Monae, etc. I think my mom would really enjoy the performances and the empowerment sessions.