How to Budget to Get to Essence Festival and Spending While There

The Essence Festival is one of the most popular cultural events held annually in New Orleans, attracting thousands of visitors who come to celebrate music, art, and black culture. If you're planning to attend Essence Festival, you're in for an unforgettable experience. However, the festival can be quite expensive, especially if you don't plan and budget. You could end up overspending. Every trip/vacation begins when you start planning. It’s part of the fun. It builds excitement.  The earlier you begin, the better the trip you can create!

Create your Budget!

While attending the festival can be a dream come true, it can also be a financial burden if not properly planned and budgeted.  Between tickets for the concerts, transportation there, hotel, getting around town, and food, it adds up.  You can do Essence Festival for a few thousand dollars to five figures. Be honest with yourself about how much you can spend and pay off within a reasonable time.  A great time can be had at all price points.

Research Transportation Options

The first step in budgeting for Essence Festival is researching transportation options. New Orleans is a popular travel destination, so there are several ways to get there, including air travel, road travel, and train travel. Research different transportation options based on where you are coming from and compare prices to find the most affordable and convenient option for your budget.

Accommodations

The next step is selecting your accommodations. When selecting accommodation, consider things such as location, price, and amenities.  Ideally, you want to be located where you can easily get to the Superdome for the concerts, Convention Center, the French Quarter, and transportation. Several hotels meet these criteria.  Timing your search is key as there are hotels that will offer special event pricing that you can access through essencefesthotels.com.  But you have to move quickly as the rooms get snatched up fast. Then you are left with much higher room rates.  If luxury and living your best life is you, The Roosevelt and Ritz Carlton check the boxes of location, amenities, and luxury.

Festival Tickets

Essence Festival offers several different ticket packages, including weekend passes, VIP packages, and single-day passes. The weekend passes go on sale first.  If you are planning to attend all 3 nights of concerts, this is the best deal whether you are in the rafters or on the floor.  We recommend the weekend pass even if you think you only want to attend 2 nights of concerts.  The single-day tickets go on sale a while after the weekend pass. 

Food and Drinks

Another aspect of budgeting for Essence Festival is planning meals and budgeting for food and drinks while at the festival. New Orleans is known for its delicious and diverse cuisine, but eating out can add up quickly. Explore affordable dining options, such as food trucks, street vendors, and smaller mom & pop dining. If possible, budget for at least one special dinner out.  There are some iconic places we love...GW Fins, Arnauds, Palace Café…to try if you can.  Don't forget to budget for drinks!

Entertainment and Activities

Finally, when budgeting for Essence Festival don’t forget additional entertainment and activities. The festival offers a wide range of free and paid events and activities. But there are a few extra activities, such as the All White Yacht Party, that you may want to attend.  Plan for paid events and activities by researching prices and scheduling.

Attending Essence Festival can be an incredible experience, but it's essential to plan and budget accordingly. To budget for the festival, research transportation options, select affordable accommodation, plan meals and budget for food and drinks, and plan for entertainment and activities. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to having an amazing and affordable experience at Essence Festival.

 

L & L

Your Frugal and Fly Team