Australian town pays tribute Elvis Presley
Xinhua, January 8, 2015 Adjust font size:
It's a long way from Graceland where legendary American singer Elvis Presley lived but the rural Australian town of Parkes stopped everything from Thursday to pay tribute to him as it does five days every year.
On Thursday, a special train packed with 400 Presley fans and impersonators who mimic the man who made rock n' roll a global phenomenon in the 1950, 60s and 70s left Sydney bound for the Parkes Elvis Festival.
Over the coming five days, they will be joined by 18,000 visitors to see hundreds of Elvis impersonators performing at clubs, pubs and on the streets plus a host of special events.
While Presley died in August 1977, he would have turned 80 on Thursday and his everlasting fans will celebrate rather than mourn him at this year's festival.
"We will have 150 separate events all about Elvis, including rock n' roll dancing, a photo exhibition, a renewal of marriage vows chapel where an Elvis will renew couples vows Las Vegas style, " festival spokeswoman Emily Mann told Xinhua.
Hundreds of couples get married by Elvis impersonators in the American gaming capital every week.
"There's even an edible Elvis art exhibition made of cakes showing Elvis in various poses from different stages of his life," Mann said. Endi