As first-timers to the world-renowned Parkes Elvis Festival, we were utterly unprepared and utterly under-dressed for one of the most entertaining festivals in the country.
On a searing hot January day, we rolled into Parkes in our boring white rental car and quickly grasped the magnitude of our mistake. We were surrounded by gel-haired, beehive-touting, diamante-encrusted jumpsuit-clad die-hard Elvis fans, dressed only in jeans and t-shirts.
Staring down the main drag, we were amazed to see the streets lined with some of the finest vintage cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s we’ve ever seen. We immediately felt silly for bringing a kia to the party, and parked it out of sight.
Elvis hits blared out of every pub, café, restaurant, Bowls Club and RSL. A mass of bodies could be seen in gyrating motion beyond the Elvis bouncers.
And to think we prided ourselves on throwing fancy dress parties!
We hid the Kia, grabbed our bags and scurried into our room at the newly renovated Astro Dish Motor Inn. Couples and carloads of revellers continued to cruise into the hotel’s carpark; lounging back in their roomy Cadillacs with the windows rolled down, Elvis on shuffle. We closed the blinds and slipped into our sparkling spandex jumpsuits. It was now or never!
The Elvis event that keeps on growing
Every year Parkes Elvis Festival continues to grow, and it’s already the largest event honouring Elvis outside of the USA. In previous years, more than 25,000 Elvis fans have hit the streets for five days packed with live music, special events, talks, markets, pop-up stores and more, all in celebration of The King. The event also attracts stars from around the world. In fact, it’s officially endorsed by the estate of Elvis Presley.
To highlight the serious nature of this event on the Australian calendar, there are now Elvis express trains. The Elvis Express and Blue Suede Express bring revellers from Sydney to Parkes each year. Rex Airlines also put on a Rex Hound Dog Express from Sydney. This year, every seat was sold out, and thousands of locals came to greet the trains as they pulled into the station.
We attend so many events and shows; the Northparkes Mines Street Parade (think Mardi Gras meets Elvis) and Sunday’s Elvis Gospel Service. Even a Renewal of Vows Ceremony in Cooke Park. Apparently, hundreds of Australians want to tie the knot while impersonating the Presleys.
On our second evening in town, I notice a trail of glamorous women in white dresses and updos heading into the Services Club. Wandering up to the chatty group, I discover that they’re attending the Miss Priscilla Competition and Dinner, which is a two-course meal and a show inside a vintage ballroom, where each woman competes to embody the timeless style and elegance of Priscilla Presley. It’s a night of nostalgia that everyone can enjoy.
The next day kicks off the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, where the best Elvis tribute artists in the industry compete for their place on the podium. The competition searches for the artist who best embodies the vocals, style and stage presence of The King, and the winner represents Australia in Memphis, USA!
On stage, the spandex-clad performers get the whole crowd going with all the biggest hits, moving and shaking just like Elvis. If you squint, it’s like The King himself is standing in front of you.
For those travelling with the kids, the Family Fun Zone is open daily, with jumping castles, music and activities to help them make new friends while enjoying their own festival experience. It’s right next to Elvis Central, which is your one-stop destination for all official merchandise, Festival information and souvenirs.
Of course, there are plenty of tribute shows and performances in heritage venues across Parkes, as well as daily competitions such as rock ‘n’ roll dancing, look-a-like contests, and Elvis poetry slams.
Touring the town in style
To get a good grasp on the city, we took a cruise through the Elvis-flooded streets up to the best place to get the lay of the land: Memorial Hill Lookout.
The well-groomed hilltop, with its 33m tower, commemorates those from the district who have been killed in action during wars in which Australia was involved. Down below us in Parkes, we could make out thousands of glittering specs of colour dedicated to Elvis, jiving away in the distance.
The legend lives on
After a fabulous five days living through a lens focused on the legendary King of Rock ’n’ Roll, we were different people. We knew which cars Elvis had loved and collected, we knew all about his everlasting love affair with Priscilla. We read and heard endless tales about the tribulations, tragedies and triumphs that gave Elvis the ups and downs that ultimately ended his life in 1977, when he was just 42. And we most definitely knew most of his songs by heart.
For our departure, we approached our white Kia in more appropriate garb than we’d arrived in; me in a silk, full-skirted ’60s swing dress with white and blue stripes, and pink flamingos decorating its hem so that when I twirled they went around like a carousel. My partner was dressed in a ’70s patchwork suede three-piece suit, his black hair coiffed in a quiff. We both wore gold-rimmed sunglasses. As we mosied through the carpark another couple strode confidently towards us – they could have been Elvis and Priscilla themselves.
Elvis nodded and grinned. We smiled back. “Nice outfits,” he said. Well, I’ll be!
Find the event program and get your tickets at parkeselvisfestival.com.au. The 2027 festival will run from 6-10 January, to coincide with Elvis Presley’s birthday. The theme is ‘Elvis on Tour’, inspired by the iconic 1972 concert documentary and album of the same name.
To read about the best outdoor activities in Parkes, click here.
If the Parkes Elvis Festival sounds like an exciting experience, don’t wait another second. Book your flights with Rex Airlines here and check out the route map below for more details.
