The Parkes Elvis Festival 2026 is gearing up to be one of the most exciting celebra­tions the town has ever seen, bringing five unforgettable days of music, energy and pure Elvis magic to Parkes, from 7–11 Jan­uary. Each year, tens of thousands of fans travel from across Australia and the world to honour the King, and this year’s theme, Love Me Tender, promises a heartfelt and immersive tribute to Elvis Presley’s most iconic ballads.

Across the festival, visitors can expect a vibrant program packed with world-class concerts, street parades, competitions, workshops, family activities and late-night entertainment. From the sparkling perfor­mances of renowned tribute artists to the charming retro atmosphere that transforms the town, the experience is unlike anything else in the country. In 2026, new additions including expanded Family Fun Zone and enhanced fan experiences will give both first-timers and returning festival-goers more to explore than ever before.

The official program will be available for purchase from Elvis Central, the Parkes Visitor Information Centre, and several lo­cal retailers.

What makes the Parkes Elvis Festival truly special is its sense of community, celebration and shared nostalgia. Wheth­er you are singing along to the classics, browsing the themed markets, or soaking up the electric energy on the famous Elvis Festival Street Parade route, you will feel part of something bigger, an annual tradi­tion that continues to grow.

With demand increasing each year, tick­ets are selling fast. If you want the best seats at headline shows, exclusive experi­ences or accommodation close to the ac­tion, now is the perfect time to secure your place.

Do not miss the chance to start your year with five days of music, memories and pure joy. The King is calling, grab your tickets today and be part of the 2026 celebration.

https://www.123tix.com.au/events/parke­selvisfestival

The 2025 Parkes Christmas Parade starts at 6pm in Short St on Friday, 5 December.

The Parade and Carnival have been run­ning for nine years, since 2017, however the Apex Club did co-ordinate Christmas functions prior to that. Each year the pa­rade and carnival are organised by the Parkes Action Club which is a group of vol­unteers raising money for local children.

It’s expected most of the schools will participate in the Parade as well as many businesses. Previous parade winners McPhersons are sure to be there to reclaim their Parade crown from The Fergie Group.

There will be a prize for the best commer­cial float and also school participation.

There will be approximately 30 local stalls in the Carnival in Cook Park featuring the wealth of talent from across the Parkes Shire. Jo Burke will be selling her beauti­ful sewing, Parkes Potters will have their wares on display. Spuddy Buddy will be one of the many food vendors along with the Rotary BBQ.

The Parkes Action Club would like to thank participants for supporting the Pa­rade and Carnival over the years. More details on the Action Club Facebook page.

Macca’s is inviting Parkes and Forbes lo­cals to join the fun this Saturday, 15 No­vember, and help raise vital funds for Ron­ald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).  From now until midnight on Saturday, 15 November, Central West locals can pick up Silly Socks for $6.50 and on McHappy Day you can buy a Big Mac, with a BIGGER purpose with $2 from every Big Mac sold (solo or in a meal) going directly to RMHC.

That’s a smile with every mouthful. 

Organised by McDonald’s Australia, McHappy Day is the largest annual fund­raiser for RMHC. Since launching in 1991, McHappy Day has raised over $79 mil­lion for RMHC, helping support more than 69,000 families every year – but with thou­sands more families needing support each year, McHappy Day donations are more important than ever.

Supporting McHappy Day helps fund essential RMHC Programs like Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreats, Hospital­ity Carts and the Learning Program – all designed to provide comfort, care and sup­port to families when and where they need it most.

Want to get involved? Visit: www.mchap­pyday.org.au. Want to donate? Visit: mchappyday.org.au/donate

BIG W is calling on the community in Parkes to join it in championing some of the country’s bravest kids this Christmas, with the launch of its 2025 Charity Wrap and Heart Tokens, in stores nationwide un­til Christmas.

Featuring the heartfelt designs of 11 pas­sionate young kids in hospital care, 100% of proceeds from this year’s wrapping pa­per and tokens will go directly to helping kids like them. In NSW and ACT, all funds raised go towards fuelling the vital work of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.

In addition to its fundraising efforts, BIG W is contributing an additional $20,000 to Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, further supporting programs that bring care and joy to sick kids and their families this Christmas.

Kristina Keneally, CEO of Sydney Chil­dren’s Hospitals Foundation, said: “Each year, the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network’s Child Life Therapy teams sup­port families nearly 25,000 times – helping children understand what’s happening to them, cope with treatment, and feel more in control. But the need is growing. With more children coming through our hospitals each year, and Sydney’s two new children’s hos­pital redevelopments close to opening, de­mand is higher than ever.

“Thanks to the generosity of BIG W’s customers, we can ensure no child misses out on the support of a program that truly transforms their hospital experience – eas­ing fear, building confidence and making hospital a little less overwhelming.”

BIG W’s Charity Wrap ($5) is available now in two festive designs, and Heart To­kens ($2) will be available until Christmas.

Customers can place their Heart Token on the BIG W Big Hearts Wall in store as a show of support.

Clean Up Australia Day returns on Sunday 1 March 2026, and we’re calling on indi­viduals, families, schools, and community groups across the country to register now and get in on the action to be part of Aus­tralia’s largest environmental movement.

Since its inception, over 23 million vol­unteers have joined the Clean Up effort.

In 2025, over 800,000 people volunteered across 8,000 events nationally during the Clean Up Australia Day campaign period.

Registrations for Clean Up Australia Day 2026 are now open. Volunteers can receive a free Clean Up kit, containing gloves, bags and other resources, with packs for indi­viduals, families, community groups and schools available (businesses are asked to pay a small fee to cover costs).As an added bonus, if you register your Clean Up Australia Day event before 31 December, you will automatically be en­tered into an early bird competition to win one of five donated $500 Coles vouchers.

Terms and conditions apply.

With Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday February 24, 2026 and Schools Clean Up Day on Friday February 27, 2026.

Register now at cleanup.org.au for Clean Up Australia Day March 1, 2026

Craft Corner Parkes is bringing extra ex­citement to town with its very first Toy Chal­lenge, an uplifting competition that cele­brates the creativity and imagination of local makers. Craft Corner is located in the heart of Parkes, a vibrant community of passion­ate artisans and crafters dedicated to creat­ing and sharing handmade treasures. From unique home décor to one-of-a-kind gifts, each piece tells a story and is crafted with love.

Participants are invited to craft any hand­made toy—sewn, knitted, crocheted, or otherwise created. The judges will look for creativity, craftsmanship, and that special spark of charm. In the spirit of giving back, makers can also choose to donate their toys after judging to Sewing for Charity Aus­tralia (sewingforcharity.com) which provides handcrafted comfort items to families and children in need.

On Thursday, 7 November, two beloved members of the Parkes creative community.

Margaret Marshall and Joy Paddison will judge the entries. Their enthusiastic support for local crafters makes them the perfect choice for this debut event.

“This challenge really captures the es­sence of Craft Corner,” said a spokesper­son for Combined Crafts Group Inc. “It’s about inspiring creativity, nurturing com­munity, and spreading kindness—making something special by hand, and sharing it to brighten someone else’s day.”

All toys will be displayed at Craft Corner, Clarinda Street, Parkes, in the lead-up to judging, allowing the public to admire the skills and inventiveness of local craftspeo­ple.

To find out more information about Craft Corner’s inaugural Toy Challenge or to join in, visit craftcornerparkes.au or call into the store. You only have until the 31 October to get your entries in, so don’t miss out.