Glamazons,
I enjoy Essence Festival so much I would have to sit and think hard about how it could get any better than it already is. Oh wait, I know — if I won a brand new car! Every year some incredibly lucky attendee at Essence Festival walks away with a new car courtesy of Ford, the festival’s exclusive automotive sponsor for seven consecutive years. This year I’m hoping it’s a Glamazon that wins so I can feel I’ve won by association, haha. It’s pretty simple to enter too (details below). And for the people like me who aren’t walking away with a car, Ford has a ton of fun activities from performances in the Superlounge (hey Elle Varner!) to appearances at the Ford booth (none other than Uncle Charlie Wilson) so everybody wins (atleast this is what I tell myself).
Get the scoop on all the fun #FordUp happenings at Essence Fest, and find out where I’ll be hanging out below!
Sirius Broadcasting Live from the Ford booth with Charlie Wilson, Iyanla Vanzant and more!
Jazmine Sullivan at the Ford booth last year
Glamazons, I live for Essence Fest performances but the appearances at the Ford booth at the Convention Center offer a more intimate experience with my fave artists. I always stop by the SiriusXM booth to watch live interviews with celebs who are in town, and even meet a few. I’ve met T.I., Idris Elba and Trey Songz all at the Ford booth!
The year I met T.I. at the Ford booth!
This year, there will be live interviews from the great Charlie Wilson, Avant, Raheem Devaughn (who I saw perform in the Ford Superlounge last year) and so many more! And Iyanla Vanzant will make a special appearance signing copies of her latest book. I’ll be there Sunday and am so excited to meet her!
Stop by Friday and Saturday between 2-5PM, and Sunday 12-3PM. Iyanla’s Q&A will be on Sunday from 12:30PM-1:30PM.
I’ll also be a big kid at the Ford booth playing games with their host, “Playdate.” They’ll be hosting games like “Ford Lip Sync” and “Silent Musical Charades” on Friday and Saturday between 9:30AM and 1:30PM, and 5PM and 6PM, and on Sunday between 9:30AM and 11:30AM, and 3PM and 5PM.
Ford Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
Glamazons, just this morning my friends and I were talking about our loved ones who have survived or perished from breast cancer. My mom is a breast cancer survivor.
With My Mom who survived breast cancer
Breast cancer awareness is a cause so dear to my heart so I love that Ford founded Warriors in Pink 21 years ago. At this year’s Essence, they’ll donate $20 for each of the first 250 test drives to the Young Survival Coalition, a non-profit created to support and educate young women about breast cancer.
They’ve already donated $128 million to the cause so far!
I prefer to support with a little fashion: Ford has an adorable Warriors in Pink line of apparel and accessories you can pick up HERE.
Ford Lounge at the Superlounge at the Superdome with Elle Varner, Lianne Le Havas and more!
Hanging out with Lexi at the Ford Superlounge last year
If you read my post on 10 tips for attending Essence Festival HERE, you know I recommend you check the performances on the main stage and at the lounges. I’ve seen some intimate, breathtaking performances at the Ford Hot Right Now Superlounge (like Raheem Devaughn!) and this year, you can look forward to incredible talents like SZA, Lianne La Havas, Sevyn Streeter, Andra Day, Esperanza Spalding and more!
Love Sevyn Streeter! Here we are with Sevyn at last year’s Essence Fest
And you can play in the photo booth (like I did) and charge your phone — super convenient! Plus get deets on the latest Ford technology at their interactive kiosks there.
P.S. if you sign up to win a new Ford there, you’ll get a stylish shoe bag — and you know I need that. OH! And speaking about winning a new Ford, see the next paragraph for deets on how to enter!
Car Giveaway! Ford Ride and Drive Event
Attendees at last year’s Ford booth lined up to enter to win a new car!
OK the activity we’ve all been waiting for: Yes, Ford will give away a chance to win keys to a Ford vehicle of choice (up to $30K) to one lucky Essence Fest attendee! How to enter? Participate in Ford’s ride and drive event by signing up to test drive at the Ford booth at the Convention Center. On Sunday, Nephew Tommy from the Steve Harvey Morning Show will host as four finalists compete to win!
Posing with my dream Ford car
You’ll also receive a $750** bonus cash offer on the purchase of any new 2014 or 2015 Ford vehicle just for signing up and opting-in to Ford communications! AND everyone who completes a test drive this weekend gets entered to win a $300 Visa Gift Card daily! They’ll also be giving away nightly concert tickets. So many goodies.
Glamazon Andrea test driving a Ford
Some of my fave iconic Ford vehicles are available to test drive like the 2015 Edge, Focus hatchback, Fusion, Mustang, Taurus, Flex, Escape, F-150 and Explorer. But I’m really excited to see the 2017 Ford GT will be on display at the Ford booth at the Convention Center.
A part of the Ford performance lineup, the all-new supercar has a ton of cool innovative features including light-weighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost® engine technology. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost production engine is pretty amazing with a next-generation twin-turbo that produces more than 600 horsepower. But the real draw are the incredible advanced, active aerodynamics including a deployable rear wing. Like whet?! It’s available late 2016 (pricing will be announced at that time) and no more than 250 will produced a year globally. Stay tuned for more pics!
So many cool activities right, Glamazons? Follow me at @DressUpWithJess on Twitter and Instagram, and like The Glamazons page on Facebook to see all the adventures I get into with Ford this weekend. Also, follow the hashtags #FordUp and #EssenceFest for even more live coverage. Fun times ahead!
Kisses,
Glamazon Jessica
This post is sponsored by Ford Motor Company by way of Style Influencers Group. The opinions expressed herein are those of [Insert Blog Name] and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Ford Motor Company or Style Influencers Group.
