Picture Gallery: Elvis Festival celebrates 30th anniversary in Parkes
The Parkes Elvis Festival is in full swing with thousands travelling to the Central West including a Sydney couple planning to renew their vows at the event. See our mega picture gallery here.
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The Parkes Elvis Festival has already seen more than 20,000 people walk through the gates with most dressed in their best Elvis or Priscilla outfits.
The festival, which started as a small birthday party for the music legend, attracts fans across Australia and is known as the biggest tribute to Elvis in the Southern Hemisphere.
Parkes local Brad Cartwright has been attending the festival for 16 years.
He said he had made “lifelong friends” through the festival which he continued to see on a yearly basis.
“When I was down in Sydney, I used to impersonate Elvis, but I’ve retired from that now,” Mr Cartwright said.
He said he loved seeing the “enthusiasm” that people had during the festival.
To honour the love between Elvis and Priscilla Presley, and reignite their own love, Michael and Katherine Ortega will renew their vowels on Sunday at Generosity Church during the festival.
The couple will celebrate their four-year anniversary in May.
As they “can’t help falling in love”, the couple said they were looking forward to the Elvis themed ceremony.
Parkes local Dooley Thomson said the event “brings people and businesses together”.
“It’s nice to see everyone come together, especially in Parkes, for an event like this,” he said.
Central West Police District superintendent Brendan Gorman said the crowds had been “respectful” with people enjoying themselves over the past few days.
“It’s fantastic to have an event like this in Parkes and the central west,” Mr Gorman said.
“It’s very well managed by the Parkes Shire Council and the community so we really encourage everyone to come out from the police perspective and we’ll continue to support it as best as we can.”
First aid worker Graham Carney said there had not been any drugs or violence.
“People have been really respectful of one another, so it has been a lot of fun,” Mr Carney said.
The Parkes Elvis Festival began on Wednesday and crowds will continue to pay tribute to the musical legend until Sunday.
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