Elvis has left the building: Parkes express rolls out
Elvis passion has taken over Australia’s largest railway station; Elvis impersonators, die-hard fans and curious first-timers joined the annual pilgrimage to pay their respects to the King.
Huge crowds are expected in the mid-west NSW town of Parkes for the award-winning Elvis Festival, and the 2026 edition is inspired by his film debut.
Love Me Tender, released in 1956, reflects the American South after the Civil War, and the festival reflects the film’s resilience and romance, organizers say.
Enthusiastic revelers gathered at Central Station on Wednesday morning, comparing outfits and singing before boarding planes for their seven-hour journey before boarding the Elvis Express, a themed train from Sydney to Parkes.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley fans and impersonators ranged in number from veterans to rookies; Kerry Elson was preparing to travel with her twin sister and two friends for her 14th trip to the Elvis extravaganza.
“The event is a different world, you get into it and it’s great fun,” he told AAP.
“The atmosphere is great, it’s a feel-good town and they make you feel welcome, there’s plenty of entertainment, food and drink – you can’t fault that.”
Matt Tubman, who came for the first time while waiting for his nephew and grandchild at the station, showed a slightly more cautious picture, but said that any excuse to have fun with his family was worth trying.
“I’ve heard a lot about it over time and I have friends who have done it before and say it’s great, but the main purpose of this trip is that my nephew has just moved to Parkes,” he told AAP.
“Elvis was before my time; I was more of a disco guy, but why wouldn’t I get into his spirit?”
Themed carriages on the Elvis Express included Graceland Express, All Shook Up Shuttle, Burning Love Bullet, Viva Las Vegas Line and Priscilla’s Place.
Elvis tribute artist Taurean K. Mill, 21, from Wellington, said the expected heat wave, combined with some extreme clothing, had left him in a slight funk.
“It’s hot and it’s kind of hard to walk around in 14kg overalls, my goodness,” he told AAP.
“The outfits are all flashy and flashy, some are all over the place, they’re all sparkly and stuff, but it’s really fun and I’m excited for this week.”
From 1993 the festival grew significantly; it recently attracted more than 20,000 people, bringing Parkes’ population to around 11,000 and contributing more than $11 million to the local economy.
Revelers can return from the five-day festival on the Elvis Express on Monday.
Australia’s Associated Press is the beating heart of Australian news. AAP is Australia’s only independent national news channel and has been providing accurate, reliable and fast-paced news content to the media industry, government and corporate sector for 85 years. We inform Australia.
