'Best five days of the year' says long-time Elvis Festival goer

"These are the best five days of the year," said Gail Goulding of Albion Park, as she waited in the marshalling area ready to take part in her 14th Parkes Elvis Festival Street Parade. There are a handful of people like Gail, who year after year keep returning to the festival, not only to enjoy it but to get involved. She's been attending for 14 years, her friend Deborah Petreski has just enjoyed her sixth festival and her sixth parade. The highlight for them this year is they won the Best Walking Entry in the parade, accompanied by two men dressed as scuba divers - in line with the theme of Easy Come Easy Go. The ladies said it's the atmosphere and the same-minded people who help keep Elvis' music and legacy alive that keeps bringing them back. And every year they have different outfits, and a new outfit for everyday of the festival. They aren't alone - most who fully devote themselves to costumes and the 'dressing up' culture of the Elvis Festival make that commitment long before they set foot in Parkes. Because they need that time to prepare. The women are already discussing their outfits for next year on the train home. "When we get reception we Google," Deborah laughed. Gail has a wardrobe at home just for her Parkes outfits. "I have many dresses and we revamp them," she said. The pair have watched the festival and parade grow over the years but Gail believes the theme dictates numbers from year to year. Lida Hickey from Muswellbrook too has watched it evolve in her 11 years and says everything from the costumes and the people to the cars and events are "displayed better". "It's getting bigger and more and more people are dressing up," she said. "There's a lot more knowledge around the festival now and what it's all about, the women usually dress up but now even the men are wearing matching shirts more and more." Lida and her husband Ian and their friends have been involved with the cars at the festival during this time and this year they had their 1950 Dodge on display and entered into their 11th parade. Other cars Lida and Ian have shown at the festival in previous years are a 1935 Ford and a 1937 yellow pick-up. Lida said her favourite part of being in the parade and involved in the festival is the locals. "I love how they interact with us and with everyone else," she said. "And we love their appreciation of the cars," friend Chris Corliss added. For Alfred Vaz of Sydney, also known as 'Bollywood Elvis', the Elvis Festival has become a ritual over his 15 years. So much so he was just in England visiting family and flew back to Australia for the festival, swapping an English winter for 30-plus degree temperatures of Parkes. Every year he enters the parade and every year he rocks his Elvis jumpsuits, along with an impressive cape.