Sunday morning was a day of praise and inspiration inside the spirit-filled Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the last day of the 2015 Essence Festival.

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Sunday is the culmination of everything that we come here for, the reason we come to the festival, which is a celebration of our culture, our community and our tradition, especially our tradition in the church, said Vanessa DeLuca, editor in chief of Essence Magazine.

DeLuca said Sunday is often the festivals most popular day. She said its a day to experience warmth, excitement and joy.

I think that what people come here for is to be filled up, DeLuca said. So that they can go out and face everything that they have to face in the world.

Sonja Lue traveled from Canada for the festival that is filled with seminars during the day and back-to-back all-star entertainment by night.

Empower U (Saturday) was about finding peace in your life and making sure its a lifestyle and not just an idea, Lue said.

Tonya Holliday traveled to the Crescent City from Philadelphia.

We saw Usher, Erykah Badu, India Arie, Maze, (there were) a lot, Holliday said.

Its a list of performers that goes on and on at Essence Festival. For some its a big family reunion and for others the event is a party with a purpose.

Its probably one of the best events ever put on throughout the year, like the Superbowl. Essence is one of the best, festivalgoer Vincent Thomas said.

Some of the performers Sunday night included Floetry, Mary J. Blige and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue.  

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