Dancers entertain the crowd at the 2025 Amazing Forbes Street Breakfast.

Forbes is All Shook Up and ready to wel­come visitors for the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival! Elvis fans Love Me Tender, and we know you’ll fall head over heels for Forbes too.

Nestled on the banks of the Lachlan River in the heart of the Lachlan Valley, Forbes is a lively mix of fascinating history, natural beauty, and unmistakable country charac­ter. Take the time to explore a town shaped by its iconic gold-rush past, reflected in our magnificent heritage buildings and enriched by fabulous local businesses, and amazing attractions.

Kick off your Elvis weekend in true Forbes style at the Amazing Forbes Street Break­fast on Friday 9 January from 7am in Tem­plar Street. A chance to meet friendly locals, soak up the festive spirit and fuel up before heading to Parkes for the celebrations.

While you’re here, make sure you stop by the Forbes Visitor Information Centre. Pick up delicious local produce, quality merchan­dise and unique souvenirs, and chat with our knowledgeable tourism team who will enhance your stay with tailored recommen­dations, hidden local gems and tips to help you navigate your festival weekend.

To make the most of your stay in Forbes, check out www.amazingforbesnsw.com, call our friendly tourism team 02 6852 4155, or stop by the Forbes Visitor Information Centre at 46 Mary Street.”

We hope your stay is unforgettable, and that you’ll return to Viva Las Forbes again soon!

Parkes can get pretty hot, so when Sean isn’t performing you can catch him relaxing by the pool, recharging for his next show.

For Sean Luke Spiteri Elvis has always been a huge part of his life, and in 2025 he celebrated his 25 year anniversary as an Elvis Tribute Artist. “Not a day goes by in the week, when I don’t listen, or watch, or talk about Elvis,” said Sean Luke.

“My passion for Elvis actually started when I was about three years old. I’d watch his performances and something just clicked.

It was the 1968 Comeback Special, his energy, the voice, the cha­risma, he captivated me straight away.”

Born and raised in Melbourne, when Sean was young he would constantly perform for friends and family, but his first proper show didn’t happen until he was 12. He still remembers it clearly, “It was at the Copacabana International nightclub in Fitzroy. There were over 400 people in the crowd, and there I was, 12 years old, dressed in my first professional Elvis jumpsuit, doing a full show.

They even paid me $150 for the gig.”

“My first ever Parkes Elvis Festival was back in 2004 when I was 16, and over the years I’ve been lucky enough to experience just about everything there. I’ve performed on the Main Stage at Cooke Park in front of more than 5,000 people, had my own fea­tured shows at the Parkes Services Club, and performed in the main showroom at the Parkes Leagues Club. Parkes has given me so many special memories.”

Sean Luke Spiteri will be performing live at the Amazing Forbes Street Breakfast in Templar St Forbes, Friday 9 January from 8am8.45am, and at multiple locations across Parkes during the Parkes Elvis Festival.

Humphrey will available for photo opportunities on the day, so keep an eye out.

Humphrey B. Bear, the lovable and curious brown bear best known for his adventures on long-running Australian children’s television series Here’s Humphrey, will be premiering his brand-new live Elvis tribute show ‘All Shook Up with Humphrey B. Bear’ at the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival. A long-time fan of Elvis, Humphrey can’t wait to ‘shake, rattle and roar’ as he and friends perform their ‘bearyspecial’ all-singing-and-dancing tribute to the King of Rock and Roll on the Cooke Park main stage at 11am, Friday 9 January.

The show promises five popular Elvis songs, tied together with Humphrey’s trademark humour and playful discovery in a memora­ble storyline for all ages. Humphrey is also excited to be roaming the festival grounds performing awe-inspiring magic tricks and illusions from 9:45am. You can also meet Humphrey at the Parkes Library from 1pm – 1.30pm and 2:15pm – 2.45pm.

Follow along with Humphrey’s adventures on the official Hum­phrey B. Bear YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@officialhum­phreybbear or visit his website at www.humphreybbear.com

Dean Vegas has travelled the world but says “There is something special about performing in your home country (Australia).”

Dean Vegas grew up in Sydney’s housing commission area of Mt Druitt. He went to Dunheved High School and started his first job at the abattoirs in Sydney. He sang his first rendition of an Elvis song at his school play ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ where he performed ‘Rubberneckin’ which he has since added to his repertoire of Elvis songs.

Dean has since gone on to perform in Las Vegas, New Zealand, China, Sweden, Can­ada, Dubai, Norfolk Island, Lebanon, Malay­sia, and clubs and casinos across Australia.

Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis where Dean was given the key to the city by the Mayor of Tupelo. “That was an unbelievable feeling. I couldn’t believe that I was the first person in the world to receive the key after Elvis himself. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.”

This year at the Parkes Elvis Festival Dean will mainly be performing the MC work. “I am performing a 30 minute set on Saturday, and I will also be singing a cou­ple of Gospel songs on Sunday and I will be officiating the Elvis Wedding renewal on Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing all the beautiful couples there.”

“Parkes is being recognised all over the world. It’s an amazing festival and it keeps growing, it rates as one of the best in the world and that’s all credit to how the festival is run and to the Elvis fans that make it so special.” Dean said.

When Dean is not performing he organ­ises tours, where he takes people around the world. They travel while meeting new friends and seeing new destinations. So far, Dean has organised tours to the USA, Canada, China, Parkes Elvis Festival, Thai­land, Las Vegas, Norfolk Island. Tallangatta 50’s Festival, Port Pirie and Gracelands to name a few.

Recognised as one of the top three Festivals and Events in Australia, the Parkes Elvis Festival attracts over 25,000 fans with a global reach of 188 million.

The Parkes Elvis Festival 2026 is gearing up to be one of the most exciting celebra­tions the town has ever seen, bringing five unforgettable days of music, energy and pure Elvis magic to Parkes, from 7–11 Jan­uary. Each year, tens of thousands of fans travel from across Australia and the world to honour the King, and this year’s theme, Love Me Tender, promises a heartfelt and immersive tribute to Elvis Presley’s most iconic ballads.

Across the festival, visitors can expect a vibrant program packed with world-class concerts, street parades, competitions, workshops, family activities and late-night entertainment. From the sparkling perfor­mances of renowned tribute artists to the charming retro atmosphere that transforms the town, the experience is unlike anything else in the country. In 2026, new additions including expanded Family Fun Zone and enhanced fan experiences will give both first-timers and returning festival-goers more to explore than ever before.

The official program will be available for purchase from Elvis Central, the Parkes Visitor Information Centre, and several lo­cal retailers.

What makes the Parkes Elvis Festival truly special is its sense of community, celebration and shared nostalgia. Wheth­er you are singing along to the classics, browsing the themed markets, or soaking up the electric energy on the famous Elvis Festival Street Parade route, you will feel part of something bigger, an annual tradi­tion that continues to grow.

With demand increasing each year, tick­ets are selling fast. If you want the best seats at headline shows, exclusive experi­ences or accommodation close to the ac­tion, now is the perfect time to secure your place.

Do not miss the chance to start your year with five days of music, memories and pure joy. The King is calling, grab your tickets today and be part of the 2026 celebration.

https://www.123tix.com.au/events/parkeselvisfestival

Macca’s is inviting Parkes and Forbes lo­cals to join the fun this Saturday, 15 No­vember, and help raise vital funds for Ron­ald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).  From now until midnight on Saturday, 15 November, Central West locals can pick up Silly Socks for $6.50 and on McHappy Day you can buy a Big Mac, with a BIGGER purpose with $2 from every Big Mac sold (solo or in a meal) going directly to RMHC.

That’s a smile with every mouthful. 

Organised by McDonald’s Australia, McHappy Day is the largest annual fund­raiser for RMHC. Since launching in 1991, McHappy Day has raised over $79 mil­lion for RMHC, helping support more than 69,000 families every year – but with thou­sands more families needing support each year, McHappy Day donations are more important than ever.

Supporting McHappy Day helps fund essential RMHC Programs like Houses, Family Rooms, Family Retreats, Hospital­ity Carts and the Learning Program – all designed to provide comfort, care and sup­port to families when and where they need it most.

Want to get involved? Visit: www.mchap­pyday.org.au. Want to donate? Visit: mchappyday.org.au/donate

Residents across the Central West and Or­ana region of NSW are invited to have their say on the future of transport in their area through a series of public drop-in sessions.

“The Central West and Orana population is expected to grow by 11 per cent up to 2041 and we want to hear people’s ideas on how transport services and networks can change to support that growth.” Transport for NSW Acting Executive Director Partner­ships and Integration West Holly Davies said.

Residents are invited to view the draft SRITP and speak with Transport for NSW staff at the following public drop-in sessions:

• Forbes: Town Hall, 4.30pm-7.30pm on Thursday 27 November

• Parkes: Cooke Park Pavilion, noon-3pm on Thursday 4 December

The draft Central West and Orana SRITP and supporting materials are available at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/central-west-and-orana, while copies of the draft plan are available at local libraries.

Submissions on the draft close at mid­night on Sunday 14 December and can be made via the Have Your Say webpage, www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/central-west-and-orana by emailing engage.srit­ps@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Clean Up Australia Day returns on Sunday 1 March 2026, and we’re calling on indi­viduals, families, schools, and community groups across the country to register now and get in on the action to be part of Aus­tralia’s largest environmental movement.

Since its inception, over 23 million vol­unteers have joined the Clean Up effort.

In 2025, over 800,000 people volunteered across 8,000 events nationally during the Clean Up Australia Day campaign period.

Registrations for Clean Up Australia Day 2026 are now open. Volunteers can receive a free Clean Up kit, containing gloves, bags and other resources, with packs for indi­viduals, families, community groups and schools available (businesses are asked to pay a small fee to cover costs).As an added bonus, if you register your Clean Up Australia Day event before 31 December, you will automatically be en­tered into an early bird competition to win one of five donated $500 Coles vouchers.

Terms and conditions apply.

With Business Clean Up Day on Tuesday February 24, 2026 and Schools Clean Up Day on Friday February 27, 2026.

Register now at cleanup.org.au for Clean Up Australia Day March 1, 2026