Hundreds of Elvis tribute artists and fans have gathered at Sydney’s Central Station this morning to board the Elvis and Blue Suede Express trains, making their way to the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival.
11 January 2018Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall was at Central Station to farewell passengers and said since its launch in 1993, the Parkes Elvis Festival had grown to become one of the world’s largest Elvis Presley tribute celebrations.
“This year more than 25,000 visitors are expected to descend on Parkes for the festival’s 26th anniversary, injecting an estimated $13 million in expenditure into the local economy,” Mr Marshall said.
“It’s exciting to see hundreds of visitors boarding trains at Central Station, heading out of Sydney, to enjoy a major event in central western NSW.
“From the great entertainment, colourful costumes and country hospitality, the Parkes Elvis Festival attracts visitors from across Australia every year and this morning’s highly-anticipated event at Central Station was a great taste of what will be on offer this weekend in Parkes.”
Mr Marshall said the NSW Government was a proud supporter of the Parkes Elvis Festival, which is now one of the State’s largest rural and regional events.
“We know that events like the Parkes Elvis Festival fuel the State’s overnight visitor economy while placing our incredible rural and regional destinations front and centre,” Mr Marshall said.
“We’ll continue to shine the spotlight on and support events in country NSW so that communities reap the benefits of more visitors in local hotels, restaurants, boutiques and businesses.”
More than 150 events will take place at venues in and around Parkes as part of this year’s festival which celebrates the theme ’68 Comeback Special, marking 50 years since the King appeared on television in a special unplugged style performance that helped re-launch him back into the music industry.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall and Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith.
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