As the exclusive entertainment sponsor of the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ presented by Coca-Cola®, Disney is bringing its content and talent in full force for fans of all ages to enjoy. Festival goers will have a chance to sit in on talent panels, watch exclusive screenings, meet Disney stars and more, from June 30 to July 3, 2022.
Throughout the weekend, Disney will be taking over New Orleans with activations across a variety of venues in the city. At the Convention Center, fans will get to roam around the Fan Zone to visit a variety of booths, watch exclusive presentations on Center Stage, and attend screenings and panels at the ESSENCE Film Festival.
In the Fan Zone, fans will have the opportunity to explore the floor that will be lined with activations including photobooths, giveaways, and Disney stars such as Diamond White and Sasheer Zamata (“Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur”); Tommy Davidson; JoMarie Payton and Paula Jai Parker (“The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”); the director and cast of Disney’s “Rise”; Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrence Ferguson (“Critter Fixers: Country Vets); “Catch Me If You Can” author Jessica Nabongo, who has traveled to every country in the world; as well as National Geographic/Rolex Explorer of the Year Tara Roberts and New York’s WABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News anchor Sade Baderinwa. Plus, you won’t want to miss fan-favorite characters Princess Tiana and Drum Major Mickey Mouse.
Center Stage activations include special panels with Keke Palmer from Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear,” and Moses Ingram from Disney+ and Lucasfilm’s “Obi Wan-Kenobi,” as well as a special performance featuring the Dora Milaje spotlighting Marvel Studios’ upcoming “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Fans can also catch a chat with Disney legend Floyd Norman; a look at the new “Princess and the Frog”-inspired attraction; an ESPN+ panel with Chris Paul, C.J. Paul and Jalaine Edwards; a conversation with Tamron Hall; and a special presentation from Disney Dreamers Academy and Disney on the Yard.
Festival attendees can also check out the ESSENCE Film Festival to catch panels and screenings with filmmakers and talent from shows, movies, documentaries and podcasts across the company such as ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and “The Wonder Years”; Freeform’s “grown-ish” and “Everything’s Trash”; Disney Branded Television’s “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” and “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur”; National Geographic’s “Critter Fixers: Country Vets”; FX’s “Dear Mama”; 20th Television’s “The Chi”; Onyx Collective’s “Reasonable Doubt”; Onyx Collective’s and ABC News Studios’ “Aftershock”; ESPN+’s “Why Not Us: Southern Dance”; Disney’s “Rise”; ABC Owned Television Stations’ award-winning documentary “Set the Record Straight: The Jam Master Jay Case”; and National Geographic’s “Into the Depths.”
Outside of the Convention Center, ABC News’ “GMA3: What You Need to Know” hosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes and chief medical correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton will host a special broadcast originating from the heart of New Orleans at Brennan’s in the French Quarter. Guests can visit ESSENCE Eats™ to catch a sneak peek of Nat Geo’s “World of Flavor with Big Moe Cason” at the Food and Wine Festival. An E-suite panel on Saturday, July 2, will feature executives Latondra Newton, Carmen Smith, Jan Coleman and Dayna Lee sharing their personal and professional insights as leaders and role models at Disney. Special AV pieces from Marvel Studios’ upcoming “Thor: Love and Thunder,” featuring a taped shoutout from stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth; and 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” with a taped greeting from Zoe Saldaña, will be played in the Super Dome.
Fans are also welcomed to enjoy an immersive skating experience at “The Rink @ The Hulu Motel” at the Civic Theatre; and on Sunday, July 3, invited influencers will brunch at the Disney “Power of Joy” Brunch takeover of the ESSENCE House at Virgin Hotel with food, drinks, photo ops and more with Disney brands and talent, including Justin Simien, director of Disney’s upcoming “Haunted Mansion.”
As previously announced, Hulu will be the official streaming destination of the 2022 ESSENCE Festival, marking the first time ever that ESSENCE has made programming from its iconic Festival available on a streaming platform. Select daytime programming including panel discussions and evening musical performances will be available exclusively to Hulu SVOD subscribers at no additional cost. The “ESSENCE FEST PRIMETIME” livestream will run on the platform July 1-3 from 7:00 p.m.-11:59 p.m. CT.
Click here for a full schedule of events and locations at ESSENCE Fest.
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes Disney Parks, Experiences and Products; Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution; and four content groups—Studios, General Entertainment, Sports and International—focused on developing and producing content for DTC, theatrical and linear platforms.
About ESSENCE Communications, Inc.
Essence Communications is the number one—and only 100% Black-owned—media, technology and commerce company at scale dedicated to Black women and communities. With a community of more than 31 million Black women, ESSENCE inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in Culture, Equity and Celebration. The brand’s multi-platform presence in/ publishing, experiential and online encompasses its namesake magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; and signature live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE Black Women in Sports, Fashion House, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
