TRANSCRIPT:
If you're a fan of Elvis, it's a special time of year.
Hundreds of Elvis Presley devotees have enjoyed a six hour train ride from Sydney's Central Station to the Elvis Festival in Parkes.
Some of them were coming for the first time.
"My mum wanted me to come and she said it was on her bucket list, so I said I might as well do it"
But there have also been more seasoned veterans like impersonator John Collins.
"I've been an impersonator and a tribute artist since the same year as the Elvis Festival. So I've been doing it for thirty one years. And considering it was just a bit of fun and to end up where we are now. It's taken us to a lot of different places and even my wife and I - we're both celebrants so we do Elvis weddings across the country. So Elvis is a part of our lives pretty much every day."
Even the train driver, Peter White, was wearing the signature jumpsuit.
Originally from Parkes, he says it's always been a fun day.
"Ah pretty crazy, the bar opens early today. So yeah, everyone's in pretty good spirits as we get into Parkes. Usually you'll see the carriages rocking a fair bit as you go past the station. So yeah it's pretty exciting."
Newly elected Parkes Mayor, Neil Westcott, says that it's not just Australian fans who come to Parkes.
Thirty years after Bob and Anne Steel got the idea for the first event, the small town celebration of rock and roll royalty is now a much bigger drawcard.
"It's an international event these days. Worldwide we get about 500 million hits on the world wide web. But it's very important for the region too. So for our partnering shires they're all booked out. All the hotels, motels, booked out."
The mayor has been involved with the festival for 20 years.
He says that as well as bringing in extra money to the local economy, it pays off in terms of mental health and boosting morale in the region.
"It's almost hard to even describe just how much fun it is. The vibe - people are there to have fun; they're there to party in the best possible way. They're there to sing great songs. They're there to dance. They're there to meet up and just make memories that last a lifetime."
New South Wales Tourism Minister John Graham has also gotten in on the act.
He says that the festival in Parkes is great for the whole state.
"Yeah this is an incredible boost to the Parkes economy, an incredible boost to New South Wales from a tourism point of view. But more than that, it's really bringing joy right in the heart of New South Wales as people celebrate Elvis and everything Elvis, right in the middle of Parkes. This is injecting hundreds of thousands of dollars into the New South Wales economy as people slip on a jumpsuit and head out to the middle of New South Wales. It's pretty hot out there but people are having a fantastic time. It's a remarkable festival. If you haven't got there this year make sure you get there next year."
Elvis will not be leaving the building in Parkes until Sunday.
The festival will include international tribute acts, Elvis themed rock n' roll dances, dog shows and bingo.
