There was no shortage of blue suede shoes as thousands of die hard Elvis fans descended on Parkes to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival.
A five day program of more than 150 events drew the big crowds to Parkes and rocked all previous records with an estimated 18,000 visitors enjoying the festivities.
Saturday morning saw festival goers line the main street of Parkes for the Northparkes Elvis Street Parade - a highlight of the Festival, which attracted a record breaking 202 entries and thousands of spectators.
Sunday morning's Elvis Gospel Church Service again proved a popular event, with an audience estimated at 2800 turning out to enjoy Elvis' first love - Gospel Music.
The Festival's Clubs NSW Keno Feature Performer Dean Z, thrilled sell-out audiences at the Parkes Leagues Club.
All the way from America, Dean Z was the Festival's first ever International Tribute Artist and won over the crowds with an amazing tribute to Elvis that stirred emotions and set records with all four shows achieving capacity crowds which was a record for the Parkes Elvis Festival.
While professional Elvis Tribute Artists wowed audiences in clubs and pubs across Parkes, amateur Elvii entertained crowds at the Festival's outdoor venue in Cooke Park, along with the many buskers that lined the streets.
"The Festival headquarters, Elvis Central was also busy all weekend, with record sales of Elvis wigs, suits, rock 'n' roll accessories and other Festival merchandise, all of which is channelled back in to the planning and organisation of future Festivals,” Festival Manager, Maria Chetcuti said.
This hallmark event is estimated to have injected a massive $9 million into the Regional economy with visitors staying in Peak Hill, Forbes, Tomingley, Manildra, Eugowra and even Dubbo and Orange.
"Whilst having been staged for 20 years, it’s been the last 10 years that the Festival has really boomed and raised to its current level of success,” Parkes Shire Council Acting Tourism Manager, Katrina Dwyer said.
“This sudden growth continues to generate new challenges and issues for the committee and all involved.
“The event really is quite complex, as it involves many aspects including over 150 individual events, a large number of stakeholders, combined with an array of logistics including transport, road closures, security and generating additional accommodation,” she said.
Miss Chetcuti says the Festival Committee is very thankful to the many local residents who hosted visitors in their home during the event and they look forward to continuing Home Hosting as well as exploring new accommodation options for next years festival.
The next CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival will be held from January 9 – 13, 2013 and the theme will be 'Aloha Hawaii'.
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