Essence Festival has officially come to a close. If the long lines at Louis Armstrong Airport are any indication, thousands came, celebrated, and are now heading home with memories in tow. “I had an amazing time,” one visitor said. “We saw Jill Scott, Patti LaBelle, Jazmine Sullivan.” But while the energy in the city was high, this year’s Essence Fest may not have drawn the crowds it’s known for. Entertainment reporter for our partner, the Times-Picayune, Keith Spera, noted a noticeable dip in turnout across the entire weekend.