ESSENCE LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE DAYTIME ‘CONFERENCE & EXPOS’ EXPERIENCE AT 2018 FESTIVAL
Interactive Programming Tracks Include
Tech, Entrepreneurship, Beauty & Style, Community & Culture and More!
May 9, 2018 (NEW YORK, NY) – Essence Communications today announced that the 2018 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola® will debut ‘Conference & Expos,’ an expanded daytime community enrichment experience with a new slate of interactive programming. Incorporating talks, expos, roundtables, workshops, podcasts and more, the Festival’s daytime experience will be a convening summit that delivers on community connections, networking opportunities and interactive exhibitions. Attendees are encouraged to register today for experiential content across nine distinctive tracks that will come to life at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and various locations throughout New Orleans from July 6-8, 2018.
“In addition to the signature concerts and other curated events that can only be found at ESSENCE Festival, a critical part of what has made this a must-attend destination for a half million women annually are the community and individual enrichment experiences that are at the core of the Festival’s daytime programming,” said ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks. “The opportunities for attendees to engage around the themes of empowerment and personal transformation continue to be the driving force behind the Festival’s daytime experience. Now, with the launch of ‘Conference & Expos,’ we are expanding and organizing our live content into programming tracks that focus the Festival’s engaging conver
The 2018 ESSENCE Festival Conference & Expos tracks include:
ESSENCE TECH – Conversations about the impact of technology in our daily lives and opportunities to pursue this holy grail of economic prosperity.
ESSENCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP & CAREER – Resources to create your own business, grow your company or thrive in the career of your dreams.
ESSENCE PERSONAL FINANCE – Motivation and guidance to tackle debt and explore next steps toward long-term financial security.
ESSENCE BEAUTY & STYLE – Bold beauty moments with fascinating conversations, fashion showcases, panels with ESSENCE Beauty editors, influencers, celebrity stylists and more on the ESSENCE Beauty & Style stage.
ESSENCE ENTERTAINMENT – Top celebrities and ESSENCE Fest performers live on Center Stage and at the Fan Zone. Plus, exclusive films and shows in the Screening Room.
ESSENCE WELLNESS & SPIRITUALITY – Mind, body and soul conversations and experiences designed to help you live your best life.
ESSENCE COMMUNITY & CULTURE Opportunities to volunteer at the annual ESSENCE® Day of Service. And, the country’s most influential voices on issues that matter most in our communities and strategies for navigating the road ahead.
ESSENCE EATS Cultural cuisine from NOLA’s best cooks. Plus, celebrity and New Orleans’ chefs prepare their specialty dishes with live demos.
ESSENCE SHOPPING Over 100 vendors offering, jewelry, clothing, art and more at the ESSENCE® Marketplace. Head over to the Bookstore for the latest book launches and meet your favorite authors at exclusive book signings.
Join the Festival community by following us on Twitter, @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2018 ESSENCE Festival® on Facebook. For more information about ticket sales and accommodations and for the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival®, visit www.essencefestival.com.
The ESSENCE Festival® is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc., and is produced by Solomon Group. Sponsors of the 2018 ESSENCE Festival® in New Orleans include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.
About Essence Communications Inc.
Essence Communications is the number one media company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 15 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of women of color.