{"id":866167,"date":"2025-07-02T10:50:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T14:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/coca-cola-celebrates-30-years-as-presenting-sponsor-of-the-essence-festival-of-culture\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T10:50:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T14:50:47","slug":"coca-cola-celebrates-30-years-as-presenting-sponsor-of-the-essence-festival-of-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/coca-cola-celebrates-30-years-as-presenting-sponsor-of-the-essence-festival-of-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Coca-Cola\u00ae Celebrates 30 Years as Presenting Sponsor of the Essence Festival of Culture\u00ae"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\n Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> and ESSENCE Mark 30-Year Anniversary of “Shining Together” for Annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup> in New Orleans<\/span> by Bringing the Culture’s Most Influential Voices Together to Celebrate the Richness of Black Community, Creativity & Commerce<\/i>\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n ATLANTA<\/span>
\n <\/span>, July 2, 2025<\/span><\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — This Fourth of July weekend, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> will celebrate the brand’s 30-year commitment to partnering with Essence for the annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup>, the largest African American music and empowerment event in the country. ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup> is the vibrant homecoming and cultural pilgrimage designed to bring together the most iconic and influential voices from the culture to celebrate the richness of Black community, creativity, culture and commerce throughout the holiday weekend in the vibrant city of New Orleans<\/span>. For 30 years, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> has been “Shining Together” with ESSENCE as the official presenting sponsor of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup> – highlighting Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup>‘s long-standing tradition of giving back to the brand’s communities.<\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n \"Coca-Cola\u00ae
\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Since 1995, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> has helped power the ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup> as the presenting sponsor with immersive panels, engagements, and performances as a way to authentically connect with reflect, uplift and highlight the community. In the past three years, the Essence Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> has generated nearly $1 billion<\/span> in economic impact for the city of New Orleans<\/span>. In 2024 alone, The ESSENCE Festival of Culture\u00ae<\/sup> presented by Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> infused more than $346.3 million<\/span> into the local economy creating 2,642 jobs and generating $113.7 million<\/span> in income for local workers.<\/p>\n

\n “At Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup>, our mission is to bring happiness, optimism and refreshment into people’s lives.\u00a0 We are proud to have been doing that through our sponsorship of Essence Festival of Culture for 30 years by uplifting Black women and their community – from young people to moms and\u00a0 friends and family,” said Stephanie Eaddy<\/span>, Cultural Marketing Lead for North America<\/span> at The Coca-Cola Company. “It is a one-of-a-kind experience where Black women can revel in their shared light – illuminating and uplifting one another’s spirit, generation after generation!”<\/i>\n <\/p>\n

For 2025, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> will continue to make an impact with the brand’s theme of “Shining Together”,\u00a0 upholding the brand’s rituals of togetherness & uplifting by honoring 30 years of partnership with ESSENCE through three dynamic activations from Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup>, smartwater\u00ae<\/sup>, and Simply\u00ae<\/sup> \u2013 each honoring sisterhood, joy, and shared cultural pride. The immersive activations will come to life through star-studded performances, panel discussions, and refreshments from the Total Beverage Company \u2013 Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup>. This includes mainstage moments from some of music’s biggest stars including Lay Banks, Mariah the Scientist, and Lloyd.<\/p>\n

\n “We’re so excited to celebrate the milestone of 30 years of partnership with Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> bringing our highly impactful Essence Festival of Culture to our community nationwide,” said Michele Ghee<\/span>, Chief Content Officer at ESSENCE Ventures. From the bringing together the biggest names in music and entertainment, to uplifting women through insightful panels and infusing billions of dollars into the local economy of New Orleans<\/span>, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> has been with us every step of the way through the past three decades, helping to grow Essence Festival into the cultural cornerstone it is today.” <\/i>\n <\/p>\n

Inside the booth on the convention center floor, Coca-Cola\u00ae<\/sup> presents the Summer of Uplift Block Party, an intergenerational celebration inspired by classic neighborhood gatherings hosted by Charles Kuykendoll<\/span> and Jamila Mustafa<\/span> with DJ sets by Sky Jetta<\/span> and DJ Mars all weekend long. Some of the activations will include:<\/p>\n