Jul 8, 2024 - Culture
Serena Williams and more celebrities spotted at Essence Fest
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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.
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.
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.
Go deeper:
- Usher got us fallin' in love at Essence performance.
- Kamala Harris isn't talking about Biden at Essence Fest appearance.
- Lil Wayne surprises at Essence's Cash Money Records tribute.
- Serena Williams has "a thing" for beignets and Princess Tiana.
- Exclusive: Essence's love letter to New Orleans on fest's 30th anniversary.
- Photos from Disney's Essence brunch at Dooky Chase's.
- Here's what Sunday looked like inside the convention center.