In two months’ time, the festival will light up Parkes in a 'Viva Las Vegas' theme with 25,000 visitors expected to descend on the town.

And with local accommodation providers already booked to capacity, festival organisers have experienced a high volume of enquiries on alternative accommodation for the event.

Festival director Cathy Treasure is calling on the community to help out and take part in the Home Hosting program conducted through Ray White Parkes.

Fiona is one home-hoster who recommends the program.

“The people are wonderful and so appreciative that we’ve given up our home for them and that’s still close to the festival,” she said.

“If we didn’t they’d have to go to Forbes or Orange, the more (people) we can get here obviously it’s better for the town.”

2017 will be the fourth year Fiona has opened her five bedroom home and adjoining flat in Glengowrie Close over the five days of the festival.

Her home can comfortably sleep 11 people, fitting an extra five people in her apartment.

“As a rule, the groups I look for are a little bit older and they’re very respectful,” she said.

“I have never had any trouble, they always leave the home clean and tidy, the way I leave it for them.

“Ray White find me the groups and I approve it, the finances are done through Ray White and are forwarded onto us.

“As long as we have the house clean as you would if you were renting it out to anyone – there’s absolutely no rigmarole or hard work.”

Usually Fiona will go stay with a friend or head to the coast during the festival but this year, due to work commitments, she’ll be occupying the flat and opening the home to visitors.

“I started doing it originally because there was such a limitation in accommodation and there was a need for it,” she said.

This year's Home Hosting program housed 561 guests across 126 homes over the festival period. 

Cathy said home owners are able to offer guests anything from a spare bed or room, to their whole house.

“Home hosting is a great opportunity for festival attendees to really grasp the community essence that Parkes centres itself around,” she said.

“It's also a great opportunity for local homeowners to showcase their community spirit by opening their homes to new and potentially ongoing friendships for future festivals.

“I've been in contact with a number of festival attendees who have attended our festival religiously for 10 years who underestimated the high demand of accommodation and have unfortunately just missed out.

“I'd love to be able to offer more people, who share our passion for the festival, a place to stay in Parkes to come along and enjoy the atmosphere.”

Ray White's Home Hosting manager Gail Bartley insists the demand for home hosting will not leave homeowners disappointed.

“We've already had such an overwhelming response to the Home Hosting program for the 2017 festival and we still need more homes to house these people,” she said.

“We urge anybody going away over the festival period or with a room to spare to consider the Home Hosting program so we can continue to take bookings.”

If you are interested in offering your home or a room in your home for the Home Hosting Program, please contact Ray White Real Estate Parkes on 6862 1900 or via elvis.parkes@raywhite.com.

Further information can be found at www.parkeselvisbookings.com.au.