Everything You Need To Know About The Parkes Elvis Festival
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Now in its 29th year, the Parkes Elvis Festival makes its 2022 return in April this year, not January when it’s usually held. The Parkes Elvis Festival usually takes place in the second week of January every year to coincide with Elvis Presley’s birthday. Given the situation (do we really need to mention it?), the team decided to move the 2022 Parkes Elvis Festival to April 20 -24. The event however will return to its usual January timeslot in 2023.
Each year the Elvis Festival attracts more than 24,000 people and takes place over five massive days with more than 200 events happening around the town.
The 2023 event will feature speedway-inspired events—the festival theme is ‘speedway’—as well as festival favourites Northparkes, Mines Street Parade, Renewal of Vows Ceremony, Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, the free Cooke Park Main Stage Entertainment, as well as the Elvis Gospel Service.
The event features hundreds of Elvis and Blue Hawaii-themed events, including returning favourites Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, Northparkes Mines Street Parade, Renewal of Vows ceremony, Festival markets and a stellar lineup of entertainment on the Cooke Park Main Stage and Memphis Stage.
“If you’ve always wanted to attend the Parkes Elvis Festival, this is the year to make it happen. Join 24,000 other visitors and Elvis fans and help boost the visitor economy in and around Parkes,” said NSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart Ayres.
Australian music legend Brian Cadd will be inducted to the Wall of Fame at the event, which will also see artists such as Taylor Rodriguez, and Jeff Lewis perform.
Why Does Parkes Have An Elvis Festival?
The first Elvis Festival took place in Parkes in 1993 and was the outcome of a discussion at a dinner party when Bob and Anne Steel decided to run with the idea and host an Elvis festival at their suitably named Gracelands restaurant in Parkes.
Bob then gathered locals together to help create the festival—a reason to keep locals in town during the post-Christmas period—and host it at Bob and Anne’s restaurant, aptly named Gracelands.
When Is The Elvis Festival In Parkes?
As mentioned earlier, the Parkes Elvis Festival is usually held in the second week of January annually, given the situation over the past couple of years, the 2022 edition of the Parkes Elvis Festival will take place from April 20 to 24.
The Best Accommodation For The Parkes Elvis Festival
Thousands of Elvis fans descend on Parkes every year for the festival, so if you’re planning on heading to Parkes for the Elvis Festival, you’re going to need to get in fast and book accommodation.
Here are some great accommodation options in Parkes:
- Station Motel | $160 per night | Book here.
- Bushman’s Motor Inn | $130 per night | Book here.
- North Parkes Motel | $125 per night | Book here.
- Court Street Motel | $140 per night | Book here.
- Hotel Gracelands | $130 per night | Book here.
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