NEW ORLEANS (Top40 Charts/ Coca-Cola PR) - Coca-Cola announced today that it will celebrate the New Orleans homecoming of the 2007 Essence
Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola with the help of some of today's hottest personalities. Comedian/actor Steve
Harvey of the highly successful nationally syndicated radio show the Steve
Harvey Morning Show, actor/choreographer Darrin Henson (Soul Food, Stomp the Yard) and R&B starlets
Cherish highlight events and activities taking place July 3 – July 7, 2007. From 'Breakfast with Steve Harvey' at the Coca-Cola Booth to strong messages of education and empowerment at the Youth Outreach Program, the diverse line-up of activities allows Festival attendees to enjoy the 'Coke Side of Life' during the summer's premier music event. And, for the first time ever, the 'Refreshing Faces of Essence' will be chosen from photographs taken of women at the Coca-Cola booth. Aspiring 'cover girls' can sign up throughout the week for a chance to meet Essence's editor-in-chief,
Angela Burt-Murray, and appear in the legendary publication.
Other celebrity artists appearing at the Festival on behalf of Coca-Cola include American Idol champion Ruben Studdard, Common, MC Lyte, Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore, and Rahsaan Patterson in the Coca-Cola Super Lounge. Rising R&B stars Cherish, whose debut single 'Do It To It' rode high on Billboard's pop and urban charts, will take center stage at the Festival's annual Coca-Cola Essence Youth Outreach Program.
'The 2007 Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola is even more special this year with the Festival's triumphant return to New Orleans,' said Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president, The Coca-Cola Company. 'We are proud of the special partnership we share with Essence Communications and are pleased to once again help bring this three-day cultural celebration of empowerment, personal enrichment and entertainment to the community.'
The 'Coke Side of Life' activities line-up at the 2007 Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola includes:
Coca-Cola Booth (July 5-7, 10 am – 5 pm, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall D)
Featured Celebrity Guests: Steve Harvey, Darrin Henson
The Nationally-Syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show will broadcast live from the Coca-Cola Booth Thursday, July 5 and Friday, July 6 from 5am to 9am.
Stomp the Yard star Darrin Henson will show off his latest and greatest moves during Coca-Cola Hip-Hop dance class on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
Youth Empowerment Session (July 3, 10 am – 12 pm, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall D)
Featured Artist: Cherish
The Coca-Cola Essence Youth Empowerment Session will be held Tuesday, July 3rd and will feature empowerment messages and music for more than 5,000 youth ages 7-12. Coca-Cola will emphasize 'girl power' with the R&B group Cherish spreading their positive message to the New Orleans youth.
The Coca-Cola Super Lounge (July 5-7, 8 pm – 12 am, Louisiana Super Dome)
Featured Artists: American Idol's Ruben Studdard, Common, Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore, Rahsaan Patterson and MC Lyte and more.
Regional Consumer Sweepstakes
Via a regional 'Coca-Cola Essence Music Festival Sweepstakes' promotion executed through local Coca-Cola bottlers and retailers, more than 25 consumers will be treated to once-in-a-lifetime, all-expense paid trips to New Orleans to attend the Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola.
Regional Customer Brunch (July 6, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm)
Coca-Cola will treat over 70 regional customers at the Festival to a special brunch.
Global Community Connections Customer Dinner (July 6, 4 pm – 6:30 pm)
Coca-Cola will host more than 300 dignitaries at a special dinner while in the 'Big Easy'. University presidents, community leaders and business leaders from around the country will experience the Essence Music Festival Presented by Coca-Cola in grand style.
In total Coca-Cola will host over 400 people at this year's festival.
