It’s time to get all shook up—Parkes Elvis Festival is back for 2025!
From Wednesday, January 8 to Sunday, January 12, the 32nd annual festival will pay tribute to Elvis with a groovy 1960’s Easy Come, Easy Go theme, offering fans a packed program full of concerts, dancing, markets, and a few surprises along the way.
More than 25,000 Elvis lovers are expected to shake, rattle, and roll into town making it the largest celebration of The King in the Southern Hemisphere.
Australia’s official Elvis hometown will once again come alive with festival favourites like the Evolution Mining Street Parade, Renewal of Vows Ceremony, bustling markets, and electrifying performances on the Cooke Park Main Stage and Memphis Stage.
A major highlight of 2025 will be the launch of the Gates of Graceland, a full-sized replica of the iconic Graceland gates, located at the Parkes Visitor Information Centre.
This beautiful new attraction will honour key contributors to the festival, with stars also commemorating the winners of the Parkes Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.
Festival founders Bob and Anne Steel will be the first to be officially recognised at the gates for their pivotal role in establishing the event.
Adding to the excitement, Jack Gatto, one of Australia’s favourite Elvis Tribute Artists, will perform a live solo show at 5:30pm Wednesday at the Leagues Club.
Meanwhile, the Cooke Park Main Stage will host Two Strong Hearts, a free tribute to John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John, offering a nostalgic journey through their most iconic hits.
This year also introduces six new ticketed shows at the Parkes Services Club, featuring top Elvis Tribute Artists from Australia, New Zealand, and Scotland.
After a brief hiatus, the Miss Priscilla Dinner returns on Thursday evening at the Parkes Services Club, where the 2025 Miss Priscilla will be crowned.
Festivalgoers can look forward to stunning outdoor installations, including Under Our Umbrella, a vibrant 250-metre canopy of colourful umbrellas providing shade and a perfect photo op, and Vivid Elvis, a nightly lighting display illuminating the main drag.
Staying connected will be easier than ever with the new mobile app, Elvis in Your Pocket, featuring the full program, maps, and real-time updates.
“Each year we work to capture the essence of Elvis, and the 2025 Festival will be no different," Festival Producer Joel Ulbricht said.
"This year’s program offers something for everyone—whether you’ve been rockin’ with us since the early days or are discovering the King’s magic for the first time.”
The 2025 International Feature Concert Series will kick off with U.S.A UETA Champions Emilio Santoro (2024), Cote Deonath (2023), and Riley Jenkins (UETA Top 5 Finalist, 2024).
These top Elvis Tribute Artists will perform ten shows at the Parkes Leagues Club, taking audiences on a journey through Elvis’s most iconic songs.
From rock ‘n’ roll dance classes to Elvis-themed workshops, and even the Hound Dog Dog Show, the festival is jam-packed with experiences that will have everyone singing, dancing, and smiling.
And the preliminary round of the international Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest returns, with leading tribute artists from Australia and beyond battling it out for a chance to represent Parkes in Memphis during Elvis Week in August.
For an immersive experience, hop aboard the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express or the Regional Express Hound Dog Express.
These themed journeys will set the stage for a festival adventure, complete with Elvis tunes to get you in the spirit!
Tickets go on sale Monday, September 23 for Parkes League Club shows and 2pm Tuesday, September 24 for all other events, at www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au
Parkes Elvis Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.