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New Orleans city leaders issued traffic reminders as the 2013 Essence Festival kicked off in the Crescent City for the weekend.

The festival, which is expected to draw over 400,000 attendees, runs from July 4 - 7 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and Woldernberg Park.

The city said Friday in a news release issued as a reminder to drivers that the New Orleans Police Department will provide traffic assistance in the Central Business District and the French Quarter from Friday through Sunday from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.

Officers will provide traffic assistance for the Mercedes-Benz Superdome each night beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Street closures may occur depending on the volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the city said.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."