Serena Williams speaks at the Essence Festival of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic
Essence Fest’s 30th anniversary was a celebrity-studded event, with big names like VP Kamala Harris, Serena Williams, Janet Jackson, Lil Wayne, Usher, along with movie and TV stars.
Why it matters: Essence draws thousands of people to New Orleans and it’s hard to keep up with all the appearances, so we did the work for you.
The big picture: Essence Fest takes over New Orleans each year, with mainstage conversations happening at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and evening shows at Caesars Superdome.
Plus, there are dozens of popups, activations and parties spread out across the city.
You can see celebs on the official schedule, but more heavy hitters come just for the fun.
Here are some of the celebrities spotted at Essence this year.
VP Kamala Harris: She left New Orleans with a little Louisiana flavor onboard Air Force Two, writes Axios’ Chelsea Brasted.
“I cook just about everything,” she said. “Today, I picked up some tasso and some andouille sausage to take back to D.C. with me.”
Go deeper for what she said at Essence.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks onstage during the Essence Festival Of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Essence
Serena Williams: The tennis champ and entrepreneur was honored as Essence’s investor of the year for her work with Serena Ventures.
Her family stopped for a spicy muffuletta at Verti Mart, and she was hoping to get to Cafe du Monde.
“Beignets are hands down my favorite New Orleans dish,” she tells Axios. Go deeper for the full interview.
Serena Williams attends the Essence Black Women in Business Dinner at the Four Seasons New Orleans on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
Lil Wayne: The Hollygrove native was a surprise performer at the Superdome for the second consecutive year.
He took the stage for Essence’s tribute to 30 years of Cash Money Records but he didn’t perform with his fellow Cash Money Millionaires, who were on earlier in the night. Go deeper for more photos.
New Orleans singer-songwriter Luke James and Prime Video star Aldis Hodge attend The Essence Of Black Men With Larry Morrow & Tank at Hide & Seek Nola on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage
Marvel star and New Orleans native Anthony Mackie speaks during Essence at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas performs onstage at Caesars Superdome on July 7, 2024, for Essence Fest. Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence
Victoria Monet and Mya attend a party celebrating 30 years of Essence hosted by Kenny Burns at The Fillmore New Orleans on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage
Juvenile and Mannie Fresh perform at the Caesars Superdome on July 5, 2024, during Essence Fest in New Orleans. Photo: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images for Essence
Tabitha Brown and Stephen Satterfield speak onstage during Essence Fest at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Essence
LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’jae Johnson speaks onstage during Essence Fest at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence
Usher performs onstage during Essence Fest at the Caesars Superdome on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence
New Orleans entrepreneur Larry Morrow and singer and actor LeToya Luckett attend The Essence Of Black Men With Larry Morrow & Tank at Hide & Seek Nola on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage
The stars behind Disney’s new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, were at Essence. Carmen Smith, left, and Charita Carter, far right, are the Disney Imagineers who helped translate “The Princess and the Frog” movie into a ride. Anika Noni Rose (in yellow) is the voice of Princess Tiana in the movie/ride and Jenifer Lewis (in red) is the voice of Mama Odie. Photo: Peter Forest for Disney
Stacey Abrams and Rashad Robinson attend Essence Fest on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence
Ava DuVernay is a filmmaker, screenmaker and producer. Her projects include “Queen Sugar,” “Selma” and “A Wrinkle in Time.” She spoke on Saturday with Caroline Wanga of Essence at Essence Fest. Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Essence
Actor Lance Gross attends Essence Fest at the Caesars Superdome on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Don Lemon, Joyce Beatty, Steven Horsford, Maxine Waters and Troy Carter speak at the Essence Festival of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Tina Mabry, Sanaa Lathan, Nzinga Blake and Mekhi Phifer attend the Essence Festival Of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Essence
Jessie T. Usher attends The Essence Of Black Men With Larry Morrow & Tank at Hide & Seek Nola on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage
Bre-Z attends Essence Fest at Caesars Superdome on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Rapper Da Brat and wife Jesseca Dupart, a New Orleans residents and founder of Kaleidoscope Hair Products, attend Essence Fest at the Caesars Superdome on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Kaitlyn Morris/WireImage
Keke Palmer attends Essence Fest on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Essence
Al Sharpton and former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial speak during Essence Fest at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 5, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence
Ha Sizzle attends Essence Fest at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans. Photo: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Essence
Sheila E. performs at Caesars Superdome during Essence Fest on July 6, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Essence
Mia X speaks during Essence Fest at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo:Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
Lady London at Essence Fest on July 7, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
