Australia's Elvis fans celebrate annual festival

Reuters Videos

Updated 5 January 2023 at 1:03 am

STORY: Date: January 5, 2023

It's time for a yearly pilgrimage of Elvis fans to one small Australian town

Location: Sydney, Australia

Sequins, wigs and serenades filled Sydney's Central Station

ahead of the 30th annual Parkes Elvis Festival

and a trip aboard the 'Elvis Express'

The theme this year is the 1961 musical hit ‘Blue Hawaii’

[Deanna Mastellone, Elvis Festival attendee]

“Everyone is there to have a great time. You’re like one big happy family. You’re like you're back at high school and everyone talks to everybody and it’s just pure fun. We dance the conga on the train, and we sing. It’s just absolutely magical five days of the year.”

Over 24,000 people are expected to visit Parkes for the event

with streets markets, lookalike contests, and parades

during four days of celebrations

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