• Home
  • Articles
    • Front Page
    • General Interest
    • Snippets
    • Mayoral Notes
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Competitions
  • Our Community
    • Our People
    • Question of the Week
    • Jobs in the Central West
    • Be Seen
  • Features
    • Rural Round Up
    • My Place
    • Health & Wellbeing
    • Loving Local Living
    • Just a Short Drive
    • Real Estate
  • Sports
    • Bowls
    • Cricket
    • Equestrian
    • Footy Tips
    • Golf
    • Netball
    • Rugby League
    • Rugby Union
    • Soccer
    • Touch Football
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Page
    • Advertise with us
    • Testimonials
    • Submit an Article
    • Subscribe to the Parkes Phoenix

Parkes Phoenix

Viva Las Parkes!

September 15, 2016 By editor

img_7358

Parkes is going to be all gold and glitter for the 25th anniversary of the Viva Las Vegas Elvis Festival from 11th to 15th January next year.“It’s going to be all gold, gold, gold for the community,” said Parkes Mayor Ken Keith on Monday at the media launch of the festival. Ken said he expected 25,000 people if not more in January with an expected $15 million boost to the local economy. “January is by far the biggest tourism month for Parkes and the festival swell the coffers of businesses,” he said.

Among the invited guests on Monday were Bob and Anne Steel, who established the Parkes Elvis Festival in 1993. “Your idea has paid dividends and has evolved significantly,” the Mayor said. Cathy Treasure, new Festival Director, said the festival was going to be all silver and gold: celebrating the silver anniversary and the golden theme of Viva Las Vegas. The five-day program includes more than 120 events with festival highlights like the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and the Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, favourites like the Northparkes Mines Street Parade, the Elvis Gospel Service that attracted 8,000 people this year, the Renewal of Vows Ceremony and new events like Viva Splash Vegas at the Parkes pool and the launch of Outback Elvis, a book on the festival.

The feature concert series, starring two renowned international Elvis tribute artists – Pete Storm from the UK and Jake Rowley from the US, will consist of four different shows. Jake is said to portray a young Elvis in every possible way from looks, voice and of course his moves. The legendary Mark Andrew will pay tribute to The King at the 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner. Digby Dig Richards, the Australian rock n roll singer, will be included in the 2017 Wall of Fame by his brother Doug Richards who lives in Parkes.

The ever-popular Elvis Express will run again, and tickets are on sale on Monday, 19th September. Cathy said people should get in early as tickets sell out in the first 20 minutes.

The festival has a competition for all tastes from look-alike fans, rock and roll dancers and buskers to poets and photographers. If you just want to enjoy the sights and sounds, the Cooke Park main stage will have non-stop free entertainment, Clarinda Street will be closed and turned into Festival Boulevard with the buildings lit up at night, there will be cooling stations and Elvis Central will open for information and shopping.

According to Cathy the biggest challenge of organising the festival is visitors’ services. “Phone calls have doubled from last year.” She said shuttle buses would run from Forbes and Orange for festivalgoers finding accommodation outside Parkes. So get your golden outfit ready to Viva Las Vegas in January!

By Maggi Barnard

 

Filed Under: Articles, Front Page

Latest Print Editions

Click here to download the recent issue (248) of The Parkes Phoenix (1.5MB PDF) – 26th February 2020

STAY CONNECTED

The Parkes Phoenix would like to thank you, our Facebook friends, for your continued support and readership!

CENTRAL WEST RURAL ROUND UP BOOKLET

Click here to download the Rural Round Up Booklet 

SEARCH THE PHOENIX

Recent Articles

  • No More Struggles With Sleep February 26, 2021
  • Young Reporter Writes Own Newsletter February 26, 2021
  • Honour Roll Shines Light On Hidden Treasures In Our Community February 26, 2021
  • Anzac Day To Go Ahead February 26, 2021
  • Snippets… February 26, 2021

CONTACT THE PHOENIX

Head Office Phone: (02) 6344 1846

Postal Address PO Box 203 Canowindra NSW 2804  

Editorial – Maggi Barnard Phone 0403 080 085 editor@parkesphoenix.com.au

Sales – Rochelle Frame Phone 0490 517 590 sales@parkesphoenix.com.au  

View our Privacy Policy.

View our Conflict Resolution Process.

View our Ethics and Complaints Policy.

Want to advertise with us?

Information on our Community Promotions.

Submit an Article

We are always looking for new articles of interest to the local community.

Please feel free to submit an article for possible inclusion in a future issue.

To submit an article, click here to use our online article submission form.

Sign up for The Parkes Phoenix Newspaper

* = required field

Copyright © 2021 · Website setup by WebSysMan