News

Essence Announces Its Annual Festival Has Been Canceled For 2020 Due To The Coronavirus

Roommates, many of us have been hoping that our summer festivities would resume as normal, despite being under social distancing guidelines for the past month. It looks like plans are being cancelled left and right, and the latest is Essence Festival.

According to Essence, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell recommended that no large events take place in the state in 2020, including Essence Fest. The publication has just announced that its annual festival will be cancelled for this year, and will hopefully resume in 2021.

“After continued monitoring of the evolving developments in the COVID-19 global pandemic and remaining in close contact and collaboration with our partners in the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, we are confirming today that we will no longer move forward with the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture live experience–and look forward to returning to New Orleans in 2021.”

In an attempt to still bring the festival to life, Essence has announced that it will be hosting a new event on its ESSENCE Studios streaming platform. The company’s first-ever ‘ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition’ will take place over July Fourth weekend as a “multiway experience and benefit celebration.”

“This Festival experience will be extended to communities around like world like never before, with unfettered access to the power, purpose and party that has made the ESSENCE Festival the largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience in the world.”

Will you all be tuning in to the Essence virtual experience, Roomies?

Brianne