Mary J. Blige will be among the many performers at the Essence Music Festival. Experience
Essence,
Houston-Style
Relocated this year from New Orleans, the Essence Music Festival brings
its multitude of music stars and inspiring programs to Houston, July 1-3.
Last year, Essence attracted more than a quarter of a million people throughout
the three-day happening. Due to the hurricane damage to the New Orleans
Superdome, the star-studded mega-festival will temporarily take up quarters
at Reliant Stadium.
“Houston has been a true partner in terms of receiving so many displaced
residents. In many ways, there’s an emotional bond there between two
great cities,” said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications
Inc., in an article in the New Orleans Times Picayune. “We evaluated
a number of other cities, but we kept coming back to Houston.”
At press time, this year’s concert headliners are legendary funk
superstars Earth, Wind, & Fire; queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige;
sultry R&B Grammy-winner Toni Braxton; hip hop veteran LL Cool J; comedian/actor
Cedric “The Entertainer”; soul/R&B legend Frankie Beverly
with the group Maze; gospel icon Yolanda Adams, hip-hop soul songstress
Keyshia Cole and comedian Steve Harvey. “Superlounge” stages
feature rising stars.
Started in 1994 by Essence magazine, the festival
has grown to be the largest annual African-American event in the country,
featuring the top names in rhythm and blues, hip-hop, classic soul, neo-soul
and jazz. Past Essence festivals have featured Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin,
Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys and Destiny’s Child.
Essence is not just a concert event — families plan their reunions
around the event. Billing itself as “the party with a purpose,” and
boasting “Big entertainment. Big motivation. Big time fun,” the
festival offers free empowerment seminars during the day, as well as
an amazing arts and crafts marketplace. In addition, the 2006 festival raises
funds to help rebuild New Orleans schools. Major festival sponsors include
Chevrolet, Kraft and Budweiser, with Level Vodka and the U.S. Army as
additional sponsors.
Be a part of the excitement as the Essence of New
Orleans’ musical
soul pays a visit to her sister city on the Gulf. Tickets are on sale
at www.ticketmaster.com, (800) 488-5252 or (713) 629-3700 in Houston.
Tickets are $45-$110. For hotel accommodations call (888) 508-5731. For
information on the event, visit www.essence.com.
The Houston Zoo Water Playground - Make a Splash
SplashTown
A family summer escape, with rides and attractions from the Thunder Run
twister inline tube slide to the Tornado’s crazed vortex to the
Guadalupe River Adventure to the gigantic wild wave pool. Adults $32.99,
kids under 48" $24.99, kids 2 and under free, or get a season pass
for $54.99. Info: www.sixflags.com/parks/splashtown/.
Kemah Boardwalk
Ride the Ferris wheel, enjoy one of the many restaurants, grab a beer
on a rooftop patio, or just gaze out at the sailboats passing on the bay.
Special celebrations abound, from fireworks on the Fourth of July to the
blessing of the fleet on Aug. 6. (877) AT-KEMAH or (281) 334-9880, www.kemahboardwalk.com.
Buffalo Bayou
Enjoy the new Promenade along Buffalo Bayou, from the Sabine Street Bridge
to the Wortham Center, including a pedestrian bridge and many new access
points. There are also canoe tours sponsored by the Buffalo Bayou Partnership.
See www.buffalobayou.org.
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark
The fun of famous New Braunfels Schlitterbahn comes to Galveston Island.
The just-opened 15-acre waterpark features indoor and outdoor water
attractions, including raft rides, beaches, many slides including a four-story-tall
slide that’s more than 400 feet long and a 1,100-square-foot hot
tub. See www.schlitterbahn.com.
Houston Zoo Water Playground
The Houston Zoo debuts its new water playground at the McGovern Children’s
Zoo, including both “pop jet” fountains and “foaming fountains,” all
in a Galveston coastal fishing village setting. 1513 N. MacGregor, in
Hermann Park,
www.houstonzoo.org.
Moody Gardens’ Palm Beach
This family play area features a white sand beach and plenty of fresh-water
fun with lagoons, waterfalls, spas and the new Splashpad. (800) 582-4673,
www.moodygardens.com.
Lake Houston State Park
Almost 5,000 acres, the Lake Houston State Park is in New Caney, 30 miles
north of Houston. Situated along Caney Creek and the East Fork of the
San Jacinto River, it features canoeing, swimming, and many nature trails.
(281) 354-6881, www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_houston.
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Located on the unspoiled east side of Galveston Bay, the nature center
offers guided canoe trips, educational programs, a nature pond and a wetlands
boardwalk. (281) 474-2551, www.abnc.org.
Woodlands Waterway
An air-conditioned water taxi takes visitors along the attractions on
the one-and-a-quarter-mile Woodlands Waterway, including the Cynthia
Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Landry’s Seafood Restaurant and the Woodlands
Mall. (281) 367-1151, www.town-center.com/watertaxi.cfm.
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