For most of the year, Parkes, New South Wales, is a quiet inland town best known for one extraordinary claim to fame. Just 19 kilometres north sits the CSIRO radio telescope known as The Dish, the structure that helped beam the Apollo 11 moon landing to the world and later inspired a beloved Australian film. But every January, this unassuming corner of the bush undergoes a transformation so complete it feels almost surreal. Parkes becomes a pilgrimage site for Elvis Presley devotees, as more than 25,000 superfans descend on a town of just 10,000 people for the ultimate Elvis tribute artist contest.
From Quiet Country Town to Elvis Capital
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| Bob and Anne Steel |
Founded 33 years ago by local superfans Bob and Anne Steel, the Parkes Elvis Festival now bills itself as one of the top three festivals and events in Australia. Accommodation sells out, cafes overflow and the streets fill with sequins, sideburns and swagger. What is usually a calm regional centre becomes a living, breathing homage to the King and the post-war world he ruled.
January heat only adds to the spectacle. Temperatures often climb to 40 degrees Celsius, and the dry inland air weighs heavily, particularly on those dressed in leather jumpsuits and layers of stage makeup. Many attendees, a large number over 50 years young, spend the weekend hopping between shade, air conditioning and cold drinks. Comfort, however, is secondary to commitment.
A Parade of Elvii Like No Other
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| Elvis |
The festival is a feast of creativity and devotion. Japanese Elvis, Scottish Elvis, Hawaiian-shirt Elvis and even dachshund Elvis roam the streets. There is Elvis riding a miniature train fashioned from a skateboard, Elvis operated as a ventriloquist’s dummy by ventriloquist Elvis, and even an Elvis sculpture woven from barbed wire. Shops join in with cut-outs, themed treats and memorabilia, turning the entire town into an immersive experience.
Two major collections vie for attention. The Elvis Museum, run by Elvis Lennox, who legally changed his name in 1997, competes with the King’s Castle, owned by a former Wiggles frontman. Between them, visitors can view a lock of Elvis’s hair, receipts for his wedding ring and even a sealed copy of his coroner’s report. Reverence runs deep here, blurring the line between fandom and faith.
The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest
At the heart of the festival is the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, where 20 performers battle it out for the honour of representing Parkes at Elvis Week in Memphis later in the year. Over two hours of performances, the impossibly fine margins of imitation become clear. One misjudged hip swivel or poorly timed leg shake can be the difference between authenticity and accidental comedy.
Among the finalists is Anthony Fenech, last year’s runner-up and the son of one of Australia’s most celebrated Elvis tribute artists. Off stage, Anthony looks nothing like the King, but under the lights his black leather jumpsuit can make grandmothers scream like teenagers. His suits, tailored in Thailand or the United States with meticulous historical accuracy, can cost up to $5,000 and must fit perfectly. For Anthony, the suit is not a costume, but a conduit.
Living as the King
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| Anthony Fenech |
Anthony balances life as an Elvis tribute artist with a day job in Melbourne and frequent travel, often performing 40 weekends a year. He became a father just weeks before the festival, yet shows no signs of slowing down. Becoming Elvis, he explains, is addictive. The challenge is stepping back into ordinary life once the music stops.
That emotional complexity is shared by Maria Phillips, the only woman in this year’s contest. Performing as Platinum Elvis, she offers a distinct interpretation shaped by experience rather than imitation. Formerly an executive in media and entertainment, Phillips turned to performance after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. Her Elvis is defined by feel as much as form, proving that reinvention is as central to the festival as nostalgia.
More Than Music, A Community
Tribute acts may be booming in the golden age of music nostalgia, but Parkes is about more than performance. A gospel service fills the park, a vow-renewal ceremony brings couples back to the altar in a converted cinema, and families dance together in the streets. The joy is collective and contagious, forged by a shared love that has sparked friendships, marriages and lifelong connections.
In the headline show, Anthony performs alongside his father for the first time, singing Suspicious Minds as two generations of Elvis share the stage. Though he finishes second once again, edged out by a young New Zealander with a powerful rendition of Unchained Melody, the moment is deeply moving. As Anthony reflects afterwards, it is a beautiful world to be in.
Why Parkes Belongs on Your Travel Calendar
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| Elvis concert |
For travellers seeking something genuinely different, the Parkes Elvis Festival offers an experience that is joyful, eccentric and deeply human. It is proof that even the quietest towns can become extraordinary when passion takes over, and that sometimes the most unforgettable journeys lead straight into the heart of shared devotion.
For more information on visiting Parkes and the Parkes Elvis Festival, visit:
https://www.parkeselvisfestival.com.auhttps://www.visitparkes.com.auFor more travel inspiration read the daily online "The Holiday and Travel Magazine"
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