Record crowds are expected for the annual CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival, which turns 20 this year.
The huge crowd is expected to inject $7.5 million into the local economy, with all accommodation already booked out and most of the temporary accommodation.
Its been 34 years since Elvis left the building, yet an expected 15,000+ Elvis fans will gather in Parkes this weekend - more than doubling the town’s population.
Parkes Shire Council's Acting Tourism Manager, Katrina Dwyer said the Festival provided a huge boost to the local economy.
“The annual Parkes Elvis Festival is a community driven event that involves a wide cross section of the community - from a dedicated volunteer committee to local businesses and more than 100 individual volunteers who freely give up their time to successfully stage the festival each year,” she said.
"Alongside the iconic CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, the Parkes Elvis Festival has cemented Parkes' status as a major tourism area providing a significant boost to not only the Parkes economy but the whole region in what usually would be a quiet tourism period.
“Considering visitor length of stay, bed nights, ticket sales, food and transport costs, the festival is estimated to inject moe than $7.5 million into the economy.
"Accommodation operators have been booked out months in advance and we have confirmed that accommodation is also exhausted in Peak Hill and Forbes.
“In preparation for 2012, accommodation capacity has been increased in Parkes with record participation in the Home Hosting program and an increase in the number of powered sites available at the Showground. For festival goers who have yet to secure accommodation.”
Ms Dwyer said there was still accommodation availabile through the Home Hosting Program and Tent City.
What's On
The Elvis Festival will officially start on Wednesday and continue through until Sunday, with more than 150 events.
The five-day program will feature favourites including look-a-like contests, tribute to Elvis competition, the Elvis Street Parade, displays of Elvis memorabilia (including Greg Page's: The Kings Castle), and more than 150 unique Elvis-style events.
Elvis fans and festival lovers converge on Parkes from all over Australia, with the Festival having become Australia's pilgrimage to all things King, and transforming Parkes to the 'Elvis Capital of Australia'.
To celebrate the Festival’s 20th anniversary organisers have an exciting line-up featuring several international guests.
Elvis’ official photographer, Ed Bonja, will visit and host an exhibition of his work.
Celebrated American Elvis tribute artist, Dean Z, has been booked for the Festival’s feature concert stage shows. Dean Z will also be making appearances at the Elvis Gospel Service, street parade and Renewal of Vows ceremony.
Parkes’ CBD is set to become Elvis Boulevard with local businesses and staff all decked out in Rock 'n' Roll Elvis & Priscilla, buskers lining the street and free concerts and markets in Cooke Park.
The Elvis Gospel Church Service has become a much-loved feature of the festival program. This special interdenominational service pays tribute to Elvis' first love - gospel music.
The Service sees standing room only as thousands of revellers join with parishioners to make the spiritual journey to the Big W undercover car park for this moving service, and prompting other churches to investigate similar ways to foster such spiritual understanding within their communities.
Loved up couples can renew their vows with an Elvis Celebrant at 'Back to the Altar with Elvis', and the TransTank Miss Priscilla Dinner will see the crowning of the lashy and luscious 2012 Miss Priscilla.
Elvis fans who like a round of bowls, can take off their blue suede shoes for a game of casual barefoot Elvis Lawn Bowls, while Culture Buffs can enjoy Elvis Art Exhibition, Film Screenings, The Kings Castle Collection (the largest collection of Elvis Memorabilia in the Southern Hemisphere) and an exhibition of photographs by Elvis’ Official photographer from 1970-1977, Ed Bonja.
Elvis Express train
According to Parkes Elvis Festival Manager Maria Chetcuti The CountryLink Elvis Express train will set the Festival in motion, departing from Platform #1 at Sydney Central Railway Station on Friday, January 13 en route to Parkes.
"Festival visitors will be rocking all the way onboard the Elvis Express," she said.
"With an Elvis Tribute Artist electrifying carriages, prizes for best-dressed passengers and a grand Elvis-style platform welcome in Parkes, including a welcome by Mayor Elvis.
"Parkes, a town which has been best known for its starring role in the movie 'The Dish', is increasingly becoming known for its penchant to party with Elvis.
"During this unique event, the town has a Graceland style make-over, with Elvii of all shapes and forms swarming the streets and many sightings of Priscilla's and Lisa-Marie's in the crowd.
"The Festival provides a huge boost to our economy and in fact the whole region in an otherwise quiet time of year."
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