Today over 250 Elvis Presley fans, many dressed in blue suede shoes, are climbing aboard the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express embarking on the seven-hour pilgrimage to the annual Parkes Elvis Festival.
During the 365km train service, passengers will engage in a little less conversation as they're treated to singalongs and live performances by Elvis tribute artists, and taking in the beautiful scenery through the Blue Mountains and central western NSW farming country.
The Parkes Elvis festival runs from, January 8 - 12 and is the Southern Hemisphere's biggest celebration of TheKing with over 350 events, many with free entry. Since the first event in 1993 the Parkes Elvis, this regional festival has grown to attract around 25,000 people and injects $11 million into the local economy.
The Minns Labor Government is backing the Parkes Elvis Festival through Destination NSW event funding, the Transport for NSW Open Streets program and the NSW TrainLink Elvis Express service.
Events like the Parkes Elvis Festival are a key part of Minns Labor Government's plan to grow the NSW visitor economy by supporting communities to host events that reflect the local character and create authentic experiences that attract visitors and drive expenditure for local businesses.
Tourism Research Australia figures from the year ending September 2024 show regional NSW contributed a record $26 billion (49%) of the overall NSW visitor economy. A key strategy for continuing growth in regional tourism is supporting events like the Parkes Elvis Festival.
In 2024/2025 Destination NSW is investing in more than 85 regional events, including:
- Tamworth Country Music Festival
- Great Southern Nights
- Bluesfest
- Narooma Oyster Festival
- Mundi Mundi Bash
- Bathurst 1000
- Deni Ute Muster
- Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko
In October the Government released its review into the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 and committed to a new 2035 target of $91 billion in annual expenditure, a 40% increase on the previous goal. The review projected that regional NSW tourism will account for $44 billion of that 2035 state-wide target.
For more information about travelling to events in regional NSW with NSW TrainLink go to https://transportnsw.info/regional
