Initially for Margaret and Michael Charles, the Parkes Elvis Festival was only ever meant to be a biennial trek north-west.
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The agreement was for the Goulburn couple to head to Parkes one year and the Tamworth Country Music Festival the next year.
"We came for our first Parkes Elvis Festival 10 years ago and we've been coming every year since," Michael laughed.
"We've been to Tamworth twice."
Like so many others, they caught the Elvis Festival fever and have enjoyed the event so much they just keep coming back, year after year.
And for three of those festivals they've had some company, some mates from Brisbane - Diane and Noel Allen, and John and Deb Martyn.
The three couples were spotted attending the Wall of Fame ceremony at Kelly Reserve on the morning of January 4 and were excited for the 30th anniversary celebrations ahead of them for the next five days.
Stay tuned for all our coverage from the Parkes Elvis Festival Wall of Fame event and events from over the five days of the festival as the town and fans celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023. We've marked the milestone with a special series of stories that show just how far the festival has come and the people who've made it what it is today.
Check out the series here:
- Where it began: Founders reflect on Elvis Festival's incredible evolution 30 years on
- Elvis Festival was hands-on for locals 'but we loved it', says daughter of founders
- Parkes Elvis Festival nearly 'lost forever' after seven years, now it's almost 30
- Elvis really does live in Parkes and he was our first look-a-like winner
- John's secret identity as our first Elvis sound-a-like winner a secret no more
- Unique and with potential: Kelly's crucial role in saving festival and taking it to the next level
- McGraths quietly working away behind festival curtains for 30 years, now their kids are too
- Kristy and her team doing their part for Elvis Festival because she says it's important
- Praise be for 30 years of Elvis Festival as Gospel Service comes of age
- Others may have thought they were fools to rush in dressed as Elvis but rugby boys started a movement
- Meet Parkes' first Miss Priscilla as festival turns 30 and competition marks 16 years