It is official. The Parkes Elvis Festival is one of the best events in Australia taking out a prestigious prize at the tourism industry’s peak awards ceremony!
The 2016 Festival won bronze at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards in the Festivals and Events category. More than 800 industry leaders and peers were wit- ness to this great accolade at a gala ceremony in Darwin last Friday.
Mayor Ken Keith said: “This award is the icing on the cake for what has been a re- markable 12 months for the Parkes Elvis Festival.”
“This esteemed award is a reflection of all the hard work, dedication and support that our wonderful community, volunteers and staff contribute each year to make the Festival what it is today.”
The Mayor said the award capped off an exceptional couple of months, hav- ing won the Regional and State Tourism Awards late last year, a NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Award in November, and delivering the most successful Parkes Elvis Festival to date in January.
The Elvis Festival was one of eight final- ists in the Festivals and Events category, representing NSW against Uluru Camel Cup (NT), Sounds by the River (SA), Queenscliff Music Festival (VIC), Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster (WA), Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo (QLD), The Falls Music & Arts Festival, Marion Bay (TAS) and 2016 National Folk Festival (ACT).
Gold and silver were awarded to the Queensland and ACT events respectively.