Picture Gallery: Elvis Festival celebrates 31st anniversary in Parkes
The Parkes Elvis Festival is in full swing with thousands travelling to the Central West for the annual event. See our mega picture gallery here.
Dubbo News
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The Parkes Elvis Festival is expecting to see more than 25,000 Elvis enthusiasts walk through the gates in their best swing attire.
The festival, began as a small birthday party at Gracelands Restaurant in 1993, and had now expanded into a five-day annual event to celebrate the legacy and popularity of the icon.
More than 30 years later, the event is attracting fans across Australia and is known as the biggest tribute to Elvis in the Southern Hemisphere and Elvis’s hometown in Australia.
Parkes local Joseph Tanswell and his friends Will and Tom formed a band a month ago and were busking on the street at the festival before their first stage appearance on Saturday.
“We’re having heaps of fun, we love getting around the crowd to try and create an interaction – that’s what busking is all about,” Mr Tanswell said.
Cooma man Tony Nassar is representing the Cooma Car Club with his BMW Isetta and showcasing Elvis’ connection with the vintage vehicle saying Elvis bought the car to the colonel.
“Elvis stood up in the car because he was too tall to actually sit inside it,” Mr Nassar said.
Both a car and an Elvis enthusiast, Mr Nassar bought the car 10 years ago and carefully restored it but only realised the celebrity connection after he purchased the vehicle.
85-year-old Elizabeth Bechtold and her husband travelled from California to attend the beloved festival after growing up with his music.
“I was raised with Elvis Presley in the 50s and 60s – dancing to all his music,” Ms Bechtold said.
Here is the rest of the mega gallery.
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