The ESSENCE Festival is the country’s largest annual gathering of African American music and culture. For over a decade, McDonald’s has partnered with the Essence to make this iconic event memorable for tens of thousands of people to celebrate both sisterhood and our achievements within our community.
The numbers were impressive; 44,780 McCafé samples served, 55,000 iconic Deeply Rooted Tote Bags distributed, more than 25,000 Arch Cards given away and over 30,000 McWrap packages shared. Events were hosted by our in-house DJ DJ Skaz and Pooch Hall from BET's hit show The Game and Showtime's new series Ray Donovan. Additional entertainment was provided by hip hop legends Slick Rick and EPMD, Grammy-nominated R&B legend Eric Benet and Grammy-winning American Idol season three winner Fantasia Barrino.
