A message from the desk of Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott.
It is my honour to extend a warm welcome to each one of you who has travelled far and wide to join us in this extraordinary event.
As the new Mayor of Parkes, I must firstly pay tribute to our former Mayor Ken Keith OAM who has recently stepped down from this position after 16 years in the top job. Ken became almost as iconic as The King himself, all over the world, as he promoted and participated in the festival. No doubt Ken will be wearing the blue jumpsuit again this year so make sure you say hello and thank him for all he has done.
As for myself, some would know me from the Elvis Gospel Service that I have helped organise since its inception and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the coming days. Yes, big, but exciting shoes to fill!
This year, the Parkes Elvis Festival once again promises to be a spectacular homage to the iconic Elvis Presley, a man whose music continues to resonate across generations. For Parkes itself, in its 31st year, we see the Festival continue to evolve from a local, to national and now International event that is run by a large group of people, professional and Volunteers, providing strength in numbers in the pursuit of excellence.
Our community takes great pride in hosting this festival, knowing that it brings together people from diverse walks of life, all bound by a shared love of Elvis’ music. Attracting over 25,000 people, with a regional economic impact of over $13 million, you are all, as visitors to the Central West of NSW, making a real and vital contribution to the people and towns of the Central West.
Beyond the skirts and jumpsuits, the Parkes Elvis Festival reflects the warmth and hospitality of our Shire. This is truly the friendly festival and our whole community welcomes you with open arms. May your memories and fun stories stay with you long after the festival concludes.
Thank you for joining us in this celebration of Elvis Presley. I look forward to meeting many of you over the festival. On behalf of our fabulous staff at Parkes Shire Council and our wonderful volunteers, welcome to the Parkes 2024 Elvis Festival.