Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
yesterday

Parkes Elvis Festival Kicks Off With 'Love Me Tender' Theme as Elvis Express Rolls Out

A Love Me Tender theme guides five days of events for thousands traveling on the Elvis Express.

An Elvis tribute artist entertains fans on board the Elvis Express from Sydney's Central Station, heading to the country town of Parkes for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival, in Sydney, Australia, January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
An Elvis tribute artist waves to Elvis fans on board the Elvis Express from Sydney's Central Station, heading to the country town of Parkes for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival, in Sydney, Australia, January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
An Elvis fan wait to board the Elvis Express from Sydney's Central Station, heading to the country town of Parkes for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival, in Sydney, Australia, January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Image

Overview

  • Australia’s Parkes Elvis Festival is underway, drawing impersonators, devoted fans and first-time visitors.
  • Revellers gathered at Sydney’s Central Station before boarding the Elvis Express for a seven-hour trip to the NSW central west town.
  • Organisers say the 2026 program is inspired by Elvis’s debut film Love Me Tender, highlighting resilience and romance.
  • Attendance is expected to top 20,000, building on recent years that swelled the town’s population and delivered more than $11 million in economic benefits.
  • An expected heatwave and heavy 14kg jumpsuits are set to test performers, according to a tribute artist quoted by AAP.