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They came, they saw, they shake, rattle and rolled for the 27th annual Parkes Elvis™ Festival. Taking place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 January 2019, the Parkes Elvis Festival saw in excess of 27,000 Festival fans congregate in Parkes for five action packed days of live music, special events, talks and more, all in celebration of The King himself.

From to Sydney to Scone, to Scotland and South Africa, fans travelled from around Australia and the world to rock around the clock and enjoy non-stop Elvis Presley entertainment and Elvis-themed events.

Festival Director Cathy Treasure said, “Parkes Elvis Festival is a truly global experience. It was so fantastic to see people from all over the world, come together in Central West NSW, to celebrate in their shared love of Elvis and take part in five days of hip swiveling entertainment.”

“I’d like to thank our hardworking volunteers and Council staff for helping make this Festival a unique and wonderful celebration of The King,” Ms Treasure said.

Hundreds of Elvis fanatics, decked out in bejeweled jumpsuits and poodle skirts shimmied their way to Sydney’s Central Station on Thursday 10 January to board The Elvis Express and Blue Suede Express trains to the Festival. Enjoying seven hours of on-board Elvis entertainment, the travellers were greeted at Parkes Railway Station by thousands of the town’s locals, kicking off four days of massive festivities.

For the fourth year running, a preliminary round of the international 2018 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest was staged at Parkes Leagues Club. Brody Finlay of Townsville became the youngest person to win the competition at just 22 years of age. Gabe Phoenix of Karragarra Island (QLD) took out second place, while Marcus Jackson of Melbourne (VIC) came in third.  Finlay will now travel to Memphis, USA, to represent Parkes at the Contest Semi -Final during Elvis Week in August.

The 2018 Miss Priscilla, Face of the Festival, was awarded to Erin O’Leary, of Peak Hill. Erin received the sash from outgoing 2018 Miss Priscilla, Alex Byrne, at a gala dinner on the Thursday night of the Festival.

On Saturday 13 January the town came out in droves for the Northparkes Mines Street Parade which saw over 11,000 people line the streets to enjoy over 182 Elvis-themed floats, vintage cars, motorcycles, walking groups and marching bands.

In 2020 Parkes Elvis Festival will celebrate its 28th year with the theme “Frankie & Johnny”

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

ElvisTM; Elvis PresleyTM; and Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist ContestTM are trademarks of ABG EPE IP LLC. Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights are used with the permission of ABG EPE IP LLC.