Parkes Can’t Help Falling In Love As Elvis Festival Sells Out

The Parkes Elvis Festival occurs every year, with dates corresponding to The King of Rock And Roll's birthday (8 January 1935).

This year's event, which began on Wednesday and ends on Sunday, 8 January, celebrates the festival's 30th anniversary. The 2023 edition of Parkes Elvis Festival - situated in Parkes, New South Wales - saw shows on Wednesday and Thursday sell out ahead of time.

The festival has an annual theme; this year's is Blue Hawaii. Attendees will be dressed in flowery Hawaiian shirts and putting on their best Elvis impression.

Speaking with the ABC, Festival Director Tiffany Steele commented, "We have never seen tickets sales as big as they've been this early in the week. We have sold out shows on Wednesday and Thursday for the first time in festival history."

While the town of Parkes hosts a 12,000-strong population, the festival frequently doubles that number, with over 25,000 punters expected to roll into Parkes over the four-day event.

"Getting that influx of people back into town and supporting our local businesses is just so vital this year," Mayor Ken Keith said.

"It's great for the region; it's estimated to be worth about $15 million to the regional economy, and that will help boost all the communities in the central west."

With the region still recovering from bushfires and floods and the economic impacts of COVID-19, the Parkes Elvis Festival means a lot to the community. "To see all the accommodation fully booked across the region, this is fantastic," Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway told 9 News reporter Mike Dalton.

In a Nationals press release celebrating 30 years of the Parkes Elvis Festival, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole quipped, "With the biggest names in Australian Rock and Roll, vibrant costumes and music memorabilia it’s easy to see why the crowds can’t stop falling in love with the Parkes Elvis Festival."

He added, "In its 30th year this new funding has taken the festival to the next level, supporting the cost of high-profile artists and activities across the event and assisting efforts to improve accessibility so even more fans can flock to Parkes."

Nationals Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin continued, "It has become a must-see, must-do event for tourist from around Australia and the world. The government is proud to fund this outstanding event.

"We’re committed to ensuring rural and regional NSW stays number one in Australia, which is why we’ll continue to support events like the Parkes Elvis Festival, so that local regional businesses and communities reap the economic benefits."

Learn more about the Parkes Elvis Festival here.