Essence Festival 2018 dates announced

NEW ORLEANS - The 24th annual Essence Festival returns to New Orleans next year after the official 4th of July holiday.  Organizers on Wednesday said the dates for the 2018 event are July 5-8.  The 2017 festival drew more than 470,000 attendees to its nightly concert series inside the Superdome and the free workshops and entertainment at New Orleans' convention center. It featured first-time performances by Diana Ross and Chance The Rapper, plus keynote conve