( BLACK PR WIRE) Oak Brook, Ill. (June 30, 2009)—McDonald’s returns to the ESSENCE Music Festival as a proud sponsor for the sixth year. This year McDonald’s brings a taste of the sweet life to New Orleans, with samples of the McDonald’s McCaf Iced Mochas, neo-soul artist Dwele, a current voice behind McDonald’s McCaf� advertising campaign, plus a host of engaging activities, to one of the nation’s largest festivals.

“The ESSENCE Music Festival is an opportunity to annually reintroduce McDonald’s to hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the country who attend the Festival, which is one of the highlights of our year,” said Carol Sagers, Director of U.S. Marketing, McDonald’s USA. “We are exceptionally proud of our continued support of programs that are important to our consumers. The ESSENCE Music Festival is merely one demonstration of our commitment to being deeply rooted in the African American community throughout the year.”

During the ESSENCE Festival, McDonald’s offers a McCaf� experience at both the Ernest Morial Convention Center, free and open to the public, and at the Superdome for concert-goers. The daily McCaf� Sweet Sound Concert Series at the Convention Center, features performances by legendary R&B group Mint Condition, super crooner Joe and dynamic duo Kindred the Family Soul. Attendees will also have an opportunity to sample the new McCaf Iced Mocha for an indulgent treat at limited times throughout the weekend, while supplies last.


McDonald’s at Essence Music Festival –
Highlights at the Convention Center booth, Friday, July 3 – Sunday, July 5:
• Meet Neo-Soul artist Dwele, the voice behind the McCaf� advertising campaign (Friday, July 3, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.)
• MTV’s Making The Band’s favorite choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson hits the floor with a dance warm up and marathon from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. A meet-and-greet autograph session follows at 1:15 p.m. (Daily)
• Sample the McCaf Iced Mocha from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Daily and while supplies last)
• Groove to the beat of the McCaf Sweet Sound Concert Series with Mint Condition (Friday), Joe (Saturday) and Kindred the Family Soul (Sunday) from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet autograph session with each artist at 3:00 p.m.

The McCaf Experience continues at the Superdome inside the McDonald’s McCaf Mocha Lounge, which features Dwele kicking off the weekend, July 3rd, at 9:15 p.m. In addition to Dwele, the McCaf Mocha Lounge at the Superdome will feature performances by Keri Hilson, DJ Jubilee, Preservation Hall Jazz Band Reserve, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk, Brand New Heavies, Rebirth Brass Band and Zap Mama.

McDonald’s 365Black Awards
The sixth annual McDonald’s 365Black Awards luncheon will take place at the Convention Center, Friday, July 3rd at 11 a.m., held at the Essence Music Festival for the third year in a row. Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (South Carolina 6th District), New Jersey-based McDonald’s owner/operator Frank Mason, and retired NBA player and philanthropist Alonzo Mourning, along with Black Enterprise founder Earl G. Graves, Sr., are this year’s Award recipients.

About McDonald’s
McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information on McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com or log on at any of the 10,000 Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants.
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� 2009 McDonald’s