Thirty years ago, what began as a one-time celebration of Black excellence has now grown into one of the most powerful cultural, economic and social festivals in the world — the Essence Festival of Culture. As someone who was there from the beginning, I know firsthand just how far we’ve come — and how important it is that we don’t let this jewel slip through our fingers.
I was a young New Orleans City Council member when then-Mayor Marc Morial — now president and CEO of the National Urban League — extended the city’s arms to welcome Essence for what was then envisioned as a one-year event. I had the privilege of working closely with him to help weave Essence into the permanent cultural fabric of New Orleans. What followed was more than we could’ve ever imagined.
U.S. Representative Troy Carter
Over the last three decades, the Essence Festival has grown into a global destination for music, art, commerce, activism and sisterhood. It’s become a multiday, multimillion-dollar infusion into the lifeblood of New Orleans — filling hotel rooms, energizing restaurants and small businesses, and bringing visitors from around the world to experience the soul of our city. It’s not just a party. It’s a party with a purpose.
Yes, this year brought some hiccups — late starts, scheduling confusion and a well-documented debacle with the super lounges. But Essence has acknowledged those shortcomings and pledged to do better moving forward. And it deserves that opportunity. Any major event with this kind of scale and legacy deserves grace — and commitment — from those of us who benefit from its presence.
That’s why I’m calling on our state and local leaders to step up. Just as we invest significant resources to attract Super Bowls, Final Fours, Sugar Bowls and national conventions, we must bring that same energy to Essence. This festival brings in millions of dollars, global visibility and immeasurable good will — and yet it too often has to fight for the same basic support routinely given to sports or business events.
Investing in Essence is investing in New Orleans. It’s investing in tourism, economic development and cultural pride. It’s investing in the countless jobs that depend on that summer boom — from hotel housekeepers and ride-share drivers to vendors, artists and local entrepreneurs.
I’m committed to working with city and state leaders, New Orleans & Co., the hotel and tourism industry and Essence leadership to ensure we do more than just talk about supporting this festival — we actually do it. That means long-term investment, infrastructure support and real marketing partnerships that treat Essence like the world-class event that it is.
The Essence Festival is not just an event. It is an institution. It is the crown jewel of New Orleans’ summer season. And it is our responsibility to protect it, nurture it and invest in its future.
Let’s do the right thing — for the culture, for the economy and for the soul of our city.
