Essence Fest 2020 cancelled
20th April 2020 · 0 Comments
Essence Festival of Culture announced last week that the annual multi-day concert series that typically takes place in New Orleans during the Fourth of July weekend has officially been cancelled due to COVID-19.
As city officials and health experts continue efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Mayor LaToya Cantrell last Tuesday (April 14) declared that no large public gatherings or events take place for the remainder of 2020. Following Cantrell’s announcement, Essence Festival announced that the concert series will no longer take place this year. But, officials said, the concert will resume in 2021.
“New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell bravely recommended yesterday that no large events take place in New Orleans in 2020, and ESSENCE fully supports that decision. 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,” festival organizers said in a statement last week.
Originally, festival organizers Essence Communications, Inc. planned to reschedule the concert series for the Fall, but amid conversations with public officials and health experts, came to the understanding that any such occurrence might put attendees at risk. All purchases for the July 2020 concert dates will refunded.
“What would have typically been a very difficult decision for us was not because people come first, and we will continue to do everything that we can to serve our community during this time,” the statement reads. “We will honor all tickets sold for the 2020 Festival in 2021 and will also offer full refunds.”
This year, as part of a digital effort to support Black women and communities, Essence created the “ESSENCE of the Matter: COVID-19’s Impact on Black America” – a digital platform to provide “the tools, information, resources, solutions, inspiration and empowerment needed to address the multitude of issues arising from this pandemic.”
In addition to “ESSENCE of the Matter: COVID-19’s Impact on Black America,” ESSENCE will also host a series of other online engagements, including “ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19,” which will raise money and provide support for businesses and organizations in Black communities across the country; and its first ever “ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition” which will take place over the July 4th weekend and will be hosted on the new ESSENCE Studios streaming platform, making this year’s experience accessible to a more global audience.
ESSENCE Studios plan to deliver live virtual experiences and produce content for its audiences. Experiences so far have included its first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness House and ESSENCE CARES Act information sessions. The ESSENCE & New Voices Entrepreneur Summit – included in its Benefit Series – is scheduled for Friday, April 24.
“ESSENCE and the City of New Orleans have a partnership that thrives in good times and is made even stronger in challenging times,” said Mayor Cantrell. “We share an uncompromised commitment to the best interest of our local community and our tourist community, and the priorities right now are providing support to those who have been affected by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic here in New Orleans and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.”
Essence Fest has taken place in New Orleans for 25 years. According to Essence Fest, this year’s virtual festival will be a benefit celebration in honor and support of the City of New Orleans.
“We greatly appreciate the Essence family for working with the City of New Orleans and Louisiana as we face this ongoing public health crisis,” said Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana. “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Essence family and look forward to continuing the celebration in 2021.”
Mayor Cantrell echoes the governor’s sentiments.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our great city in 2021 for the return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture and to once again helping to create such an unmatched and magical experience,” Cantrell said.
More information about Essence Festival of Culture is available online at www.essencefestival.com
This article originally published in the April 20, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
