2017 Parkes Elvis Festival

PARKES ELVIS FESTIVAL READY
TO SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL FOR 25^th BIRTHDAY

Dust off those blue suede shoes and get ready to swing those hips; the 2017 Parkes Elvis™ Festival is fast approaching! Australia’s largest celebration of the King returns to the regional town of Parkes, NSW for a festive five days from Wednesday 11 – Sunday 15 January 2017

What started as a small get together between likeminded Elvis fans back in 1993 has today grown into an internationally renowned event endorsed by the estate of Elvis Presley. The Festival turns 25 this year and will celebrate with a 'Viva Las Vegas' theme, so get set for a neon lit bejeweled sin city spectacular!

Highlights include:

• Feature Concert Series - Billed as two of the world’s best Elvis performers, Jake Rowley (US) and Pete Storm (UK) are set to perform four sensational tribute shows at the Parkes Leagues Club for the Festival’s 2017 Feature Concert Series. (Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 January, 2017).
• The return of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest – see the world’s top Elvis Tribute Artists battle it out in electrifying rounds to become the winner and go on to represent Parkes at the semi-final in Memphis, USA. ( Friday 13 - Saturday 14 January 2017).
• The Elvis Express rolls its way from Sydney to Parkes with hundreds of passengers enjoying onboard entertainment from a bevy of Elvis tribute artists (Thursday 12 January, 2017).
• The 2017 Miss Priscilla Dinner sees the sashing of the Face of the Festival, 2017 Miss Priscilla, as the audience enjoys a two-course dinner and show (Thursday 12 January, 2017).
• The highlight of the weekend, Northparkes Mines Street Parade, with Elvis-themed floats, Elvis and Priscilla look-a-likes, vintage cars and marching bands to boot (Saturday 14 January, 2017).
• The Elvis Gospel Service, reminiscent of a Southern Revival service, sees Pete Storm making a special appearance alongside local choirs and musicians (Sunday 15 January, 2017).
• Witness couples rekindle their love before an Elvis celebrant at the Renewal of Vows Ceremony (Sunday 15 January, 2017).

The 2017 Parkes Elvis Festival features more than 120 free and ticketed events, shows, concerts and competitions. The 2017 program is now available online and in print pocket-guide format. The Official Souvenir Program is also available for order from the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.

Parkes Elvis Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

For all programming and ticketing information, visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au.

EVENT NAME: Parkes Elvis Festival
DATES: 11-15 January 2017
THEME: Celebrating 25 years with a Viva Las Vegas theme
WEBSITE:  www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au
LOCATION: Parkes, NSW, Australia  

Elvis^TM; Elvis Presley^TM; and Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest^TM are trademarks of ABG EPE IP LLC. Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights are used with the permission of ABG EPE IP LLC.

Parkes Elvis Festival

Parkes Elvis Festival is held annually in the second week of January in Parkes, New South Wales, coinciding with the birthday of Elvis Presley. Parkes has a population of 12,000 and is located 365 kilometres west of Sydney. In January 2016 over 22,000 visitors attended the Festival, more than doubling Parkes’ population.

The Festival began in January 1993 as a small birthday party for the local newspaper editor. It was so much fun they decided to do it again - and again! Over the following 10 years additional events were added and it became a two-day Festival. With the vision and effort of the voluntary organising committee as well as the support of Parkes Shire Council, the Festival exploded in popularity and word quickly spread across Australia of the fun and unique event in regional NSW.

Following its tremendous success, in 2014 the Festival transitioned management to Parkes Shire Council under a Section 355 Festival Committee. The Festival now regularly attracts visitors from all around Australia and stages more than 120 events annually. In January 2015, Parkes Elvis Festival was officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., the trustees of the estate of Elvis Presley. Official endorsement elevates Parkes Elvis Festival to the ranks of premiere Elvis tribute festivals in the world.

Parkes Elvis Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.