Picture this… it’s 7am on a summer’s Friday morning, the band is jumpin’ in Forbes’ central business district and the joint begins to swing. Next thing you know ‘them knocked out jailbirds sing’ …
By ‘jailbirds’, we really mean the funky talents of local lass Georgia Sideris, the bluesy Paul Sun Duo, the charming Shakin Rick and Ray of Elvis, who will croon, swing, swivel and breakout all the best of the legendary singer throughout the annual breakfast, from 7am until 12 noon on Friday 12 January.
Sydney’s Swing Katz have broken back into Forbes for another amazing performance plus will be hosting a swing dance workshop!
“This aint no jailhouse – treat yourself to a full buffet of breakfast delights – edible, audible and visible,” Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said.
“Don’t forget to make the time to browse our gorgeous boutique stores before heading off to other scheduled Elvis festival events.
“We are excited to welcome Elvis ‘inmates’ to our beautiful region for the 2024 Festival, you all bring so much colour, energy and support to our country areas, and we truly look forward to this time every year as we know how much fun everyone has,” Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM said.
“Council is so proud to support this event with this breakfast and as a major travel sponsor with bus transport between Forbes and Parkes for the duration of the event.
Local clubs and pubs are also again throwing their support behind the festival, offering an extensive entertainment schedule at Club Forbes, Commercial Hotel, Forbes Inn, the Golfie and the Vandenberg Hotel.
While the focus is on Elvis and the magic he made with his music, there will be downtime. Mayor Miller urged visitors to take advantage of their jailhouse rock ‘parole’ to case out all that Forbes has to offer.
“You will be truly ‘arrested’ by the area’s natural beauty, the people and all there is to see and do,” she said.
Make your first port of call the recently relocated Forbes Visitor Information Centre in Mary Street, alongside the Newell Highway. This beautifully restored building, once a large shearing shed on a local property, still has its original beams, and doors, and is nestled in gorgeous landscaping that aims to focus on recycling, the environment and children’s nature play.
At the VIC your ‘Get free from jail’ card will be well and truly filled with sights and activities.
Take the time to travel the Sculpture Trail, a journey alongside the mighty Lachlan River between Forbes and Condobolin punctuated by magnificent and meaningful sculptures.
Admire the majestic buildings along our Digital Heritage Trail and the roles they played in our early history, take a step back in time at Forbes’ Historical Museum, visit the graves of one of our more well-known outlaws, Ben Hall, plus the sister of Ned Kelly (Kate Foster) and James Cook’s great-grand niece (Rebecca Shield).
Call in to McFeeters’ Motor Museum, or maybe you just want to throw a line in Lake Forbes at one of two fishing pontoons or from the shores, or spend more time in our unique boutique shopping town centre.
And of course, celebrate all that is Elvis in Forbes at our clubs and pubs, at any one of the many gigs by visiting Elvis aficionados. You may not want to leave!!
For a full list of entertainment in Forbes over the festival week, as well as details about accommodation, things to see and do, and just how to jailbreak your way through to the hip-swivellin’ breakfast, head to the Amazing Forbes NSW website (www.amazingforbesnsw.com) or Facebook page, or Forbes Shire Council’s website (www.forbes.nsw.gov.au).