The 29th Parkes Elvis Festival is one Bob and Anne Steel would rather forget. Not because the festival’s traditional January time slot was moved to April, but they both had COVID and had to isolate in their home a mere stone’s throw from Cooke Park.

As the founders of the now world-renowned festival, the pandemic was not going to stop them working from home, but by Sunday their tests were negative, and they took their chairs to Cooke Park. “We sat by ourselves enjoying the last two hours of the main stage program,” said Anne, who has been an Elvis fan since she first heard him at 11 years old.

“From the very first Parkes Elvis Festival in 1993 when it went pretty well and people loved it, I wanted it to last this long. I am very happy we have reached the 30-year milestone.”

Bob feels the festival has created many new Elvis fans. “In the beginning many of the guys said they just came along with their wives, but they caught the vibe very quickly.”

Despite some fierce opposition from people in Parkes who did not think it was right to honour a ‘drug addict’ with a festival, an Elvis Revival Incorporated committee was formed after the first event to start organising the next one.

It soon became clear there were many more Elvis fans than they had expected. “We had a story in the paper asking for any Elvis memorabilia and you would not believe what came out of the woodwork from people you would never believe would have any,” said Anne.

And that is how the festival started growing. “Every year people would bring their friends with them, and their friends would bring more friends,” said Bob. “It became known as a family orientated event for all ages with good and wholesome entertainment. You did not have to be an Elvis fan to have a good time.”

Thanks to the lamington drives, and endless raffle tickets sold, the committee started to cover their expenses. Anne clearly remembers the first time they received a $300 grant from Parkes Shire Council to help them with advertising.

Anne also felt very strongly they needed to get more locals on board and the idea of entertainment in the park was born. “We wanted to give something to people who could not afford to go away on holiday to be part of the festival. They could make their vegemite sandwich and bring a bottle of water to the park and have a good time.”

Looking back over 30 years, it is the fun and hard work of the early festivals that bring back lots of memories and smiles for Bob and Anne.

“The second year our theme was Clambake and we turned our staff car park at Gracelands into a beach,” remembers Anne, who was also responsible for the dinner that was part of the program.

“Our Roustabout year in 1999, we were still at Gracelands, and we set up a carnival in the staff car park. Bob built sideshows around the car park, we had a gypsy fortune teller, and the carnival people came with their cotton candy and with clowns.”

Bob remembers taking Wall of Fame honoree Judy Stone, who was big on TV at the time, on her first ever bike ride to Forbes where her grandmother grew up. “It was her birthday on the 1st of January and we gave her a cake. She cried and said she had never had a cake.”

After some years of winning hearts and minds, things really took off in 2007 with the first big stage in Cooke Park. Little did they know that the crowd of about 4,000 that year would multiply six-fold about ten years later, and the big stage would become a permanent stage with a five-day program featuring international tribute artists. 

For Anne, who shares a special connection with Elvis as he died on her birthday, seeing how their initiative had exploded into attracting 24,000 plus people could not make them happier.

“It makes us feel extremely good, and we can’t wait for the 30th anniversary,” said the pair.

 

 

Recognised as one of the top three festivals and events in Australia, the multi-award-winning Parkes Elvis Festival celebrates its 30th year in 2023. On behalf of Parkes and the surrounding townships of Bogan Gate, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore, we look forward to welcoming you into our communities and showing you the diverse offerings of places to stay, eat and explore. 

Following on from years of drought, bushfires and a global pandemic, 2022 has brought its new challenges. Over many months, wet weather and record-breaking flood events have devasted and isolated communities in our region. Despite the economic challenges this has brought, our resilient communities continue to band together in the face of adversity, coming out the other side stronger than ever. We encourage you to visit Parkes Shire, stay a little while, shop local and help us to celebrate and honour the legacy of Elvis Presley. 

The 2023 Parkes Elvis Festival program of events we have in store are not to be missed! The action-packed schedule has something for everyone, including live entertainment, trivia, karaoke, lip sync battles, rock ‘n roll dance lessons and more. We are thrilled to welcome the 2023 feature artists Dean Z, hailing all the way from Lancaster, California, and Victor Trevino Jr, the current International Champion for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition. Visit www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au to view the full program of events and purchase tickets. 

I welcome you to Parkes Shire, where you can enjoy a wonderful selection of entertainment, hospitality, accommodation and adventure. I express my greatest appreciation to all the staff, volunteers, business owners, sponsors and community members who have dedicated countless hours in bringing this event together. The Elvis Festival would not be where it is today, without your hard work and perseverance. 

I wish everyone a safe journey to and from our shire, no matter how far and wide you are travelling. I hope you have a fantastic time and enjoy the biggest and best Elvis Festival yet 

She was only two years old when Elvis died on 16th August 1977, her mum’s birthday.

She was 5 when her parents Bob and Anne Steel opened Gracelands. (Named after Elvis’s home, but they applied to use the ‘s’ at the end.)

She was 17 when the first Parkes Elvis Festival took place and she literally had to become her mum’s right hand.

“I was at boarding school in Orange and home for the holidays when mum broke both her wrists and nose when a ladder collapsed,” said Tiffany Steel.

“Mum was basically running the show, so my brother and I and dad had to become her arms. She gave us instructions of what to do and I ended up being MC and hosting the night.”

Tiffany enjoyed the experience so much that is set her up for her career. “I caught the event bug at that first festival and spent the next 30 years in events. I worked on big conferences, trade exhibitions, and for major charities here and all over Europe, and lived in London.”

Even though she had moved away from Parkes, she continued to help Anne with all her scheduling and run sheets on the computer, and then returned for the festival to help out with main stage events and launching new events.

She did not stop even stop when her daughter Ruby was born. “In 2007 I put up my hand to become the temporary festival coordinator when Ruby was only four months old. She came with me to all the sponsorship meetings. That was also the year we launched Miss Priscilla, the Poet’s Breakfast, Elvis Golf Day, formalised the volunteer program and launched the first paid program. It was crazy!”

After that eventful year, she kept on helping her mum and when she was back in Parkes for the 2019 festival a friend said there was a job advertised with her name all over it. “I was working on the Gold Coast at the time in a contract role, and I thought it would be good to bring Ruby to Parkes.

Tiffany became the sponsorship and marketing coordinator in March 2019 and loved it so much that by December 2021 she took on the role as director of the Parkes Elvis Festival. “I never imagined it would turn out this way for me. Mum was always set on making it a big festival.

“My parents were absolutely thrilled when I arrived at their house with a bottle of champagne to tell them I had become director.

“I love the fact that I get to work with Mum and Dad as they are still heavily involved and still portfolio holders, and to work with the other committee members who have been here since the start and continue the work they’ve done for so many years. It is very special.

Tiffany said she realised just how special the Parkes Elvis Festival was when she was always asked about it at job interviews. “Even if it had nothing to do with the role I’d apply for, they always wanted to hear all about it.”

Tiffany says there are enough new fans to keep the festival going. “People who came to the early festivals, their kids grew up with it and now they are coming. It’s great to see all these generations. The demand is there, if only we had double the accommodation.”

She feels the Parkes Elvis Festival can’t be replicated. “Others have popped up, but they’ve been very different to the whole Parkes experience. I really love how our town’s people and shop owners have embraced the event, the friendships made and all the wonderful things that have happened because of the festival. It is a really happy event. We don’t have any problems and everyone is having a good time.”

She recalls standing in the main street just before street parade in 2022 and thinking how amazing it was. “The vibe, the happiness, it gives me the biggest kick.”

 

(Photos: Frances Thornton)