Yesterday’s sold-out train journey from Sydney Central Station to the Parkes Elvis Festival was a rollicking good time with entertainment, food and music on offer for all passengers.

Now in its 20th year, the Parkes Elvis Festival is expected to attract 15,000 Elvis fans to the town to for the five-day event.

Parkes Shire Council mayor Ken Keith, dressed in a red Las Vegas Elvis-style jumpsuit, joined the Elvis Express in Orange yesterday for the last leg of the journey.

“The festival is growing, the crowd has really swelled prior to the weekend,” he said.

“It’s such a wonderful promotion of Parkes and what it has to offer.”

Expected to bring in around $7.5 million this year, Cr Keith said “it’s important that the council gets behind it”.

With more than 150 events scheduled over the five-day event, which begun on Wednesday, the festival has also attracted its first international act this year with Elvis impersonator Dean Z set to entertain the crowds.

Among the other attractions on offer are a collection of Elvis memorabilia, the cars of Elvis era show, an Elvis art exhibition and the famous Elvis Gospel celebration.

The iconic street parade kicks off at 10am today and features Elvii, cars of the era, dressed up utes and trucks, marching bands and motorbikes.

Parkes Elvis Festival manager Maria Chetcuti said the atmosphere in Parkes was “electric”.

“It looks like it’s going to be a great year. I just love it. There’s so many people having a great time,” she said.

The annual Parkes Elvis Festival finishes tomorrow, so slip on your blue suede shoes and head to Parkes for the weekend.

nadine.morton@ruralpre ss.com