There is a nice little town way out on the central western plain of NSW called Parkes, back in about 1993 one of the towns avid Elvis admirers a man called Elvis Lennox, talked the towns people into having a festival about Elvis Presley and so a festival was born. It seems every year this festival gets bigger,and from my observations it seems to have consumed the town,there is Elvis for everything , Elvis bowling, Elvis Sunday gospel service, Elvis Shooting, Elvis look a like ,Elvis sing a like, the list goes on,the whole town, shops , pubs, Clubs, Restaurants, Etc have an Elvis theme or busker, not to mention the Country link Train which arrives at the local station from Sydney with a train load of Elvis fans and the odd 1 or 2 hundred Elvis look a likes, breath a likes,walk a likes,move a likes, sing a likes, talk a likes.
This whole town walks, talks & breaths Elvis for about 5 or 6 days, the streets are just crawling with Elvis. I think I saw a copy of just about every suit, jacket, jumper, shirt, shoes, pants , belt, and piece of jewelery,that Elvis ever wore, or maybe thought about wearing and to top it off, what I missed seeing on a body walking or driving [in a caddy of course], around the town, I saw in the 2 memorabilia museums which have been set up to help lost souls get back into the 50s-77s.
Priscilla now she was a flashy chick I lost count after I got past all my fingers & toes and all my 3 friends fingers & toes, there must have been hundreds, you just couldn't miss that black bee hive.
This festival boasts Girl Elvis now her real name was Jackie but could she sing Elvis she had the deep voice with the tremble.
Now there is always something to learn and something I didn't know Elvis recorded or performed over 800 songs now that is some feat, I listened to songs I had never heard of before.
It was a great festival with only one gripe, the dance of the era was almost non existent, the main stage had a small outdoor floor but very ordinary, think the towns folks thought it was for sitting on, they sat there for most of Sat, Sunday saw some dance Comps not what i'd say brilliant, but never the less they are learning, Elvis goes with Rock&Roll, Dancing comes with the music. We went there for the dance, didn't do much.
I was told that the Services club recently did some renovations and removed the dance floor, & yep good club plenty of music, good food, plenty of tables and chairs no room to dance. I only saw one, half reasonable dance floor at a leagues club,this place was packed, sardines style, most of the time.
The festival committee seems to have got most bases covered the accommodation was well and truly covered,with lots of billeting & the local show grounds turned into a camp ground now this area held 100s of campers, caravans and motor homes,& @ $10 per night per vehicle. The local Rural Fire Service ran breakfast for the campers etc $4 for bacon & egg pretty good value I thought. I also was told they had an area set up with tents all ready for you to crash after a hard day in the town. I was talking to a pom called Bob who said he had won $50 at a club , and tried to drink it all, needless to say with out success, finished up totally blotto at his motor home still with money in his pocket.
The Weather was rather warm as it generally is out on the central western plains of NSW every day was in the high 30s or closer to 40, this was no deterrant Elvis still wore his Red, Black,Grey, leather,blue, white, ok you name it[ give me a colour] jump suit, the real hair styles, wigs, now there was all types right down to rubber ones, they must have been hot.
There was an apparent lack of public transport, a few taxis 5 I was told, some people told me they came on the train, and wanted to go to the museum which was 2km out of town, long way to walk in 36,37,38 deg heat.
Elvis got there though, he had to, after all it was all about him.
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