STORY: Dressed in their lacquered wigs, rhinestone embellished jumpsuits, love and country themed outfits, hundreds took to the streets of the regional town of Parkes on Saturday (January 10) to celebrate the King of rock and roll, Elvis Presley.

With the 2026 theme of the Festival Elvis' classic movie 'Love Me Tender' where he made his acting debut in 1956 and saw him playing the youngest of four brothers in the western drama set after the civil war, many dressed in cowboy and country and western inspired costumes with floats decorated with hay bales and cowboy hats.

"If you look out along the side of the road you'll see the saloon, you'll see horses, you'll see a lot of hay going around at the moment and a lot of happy people," parade participant dressed as Elvis, Graham Lawrence told Reuters from the marshalling area.

Participants walked the route, paraded in decorated floats, classic cars and a tractor celebrating the classic film while others choose the love theme with hearts sprinkled through the parade.

With temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), the parade started an hour earlier to allow for people to enjoy the event without the searing temperatures.

The Parkes Elvis Festival will finish on Sunday (January 11).

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PARKES, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 10, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. PEOPLE ON PARADE ROUTE DRESSED IN HIGH-VIS WITH ELVIS WIGS AND BUS BEHIND WITH SIGN READING "LOVE ME TENDER"

2. BUS WITH SIGN READING "LOVE ME TENDER" AND COWBOY HAT

3. PEOPLE WAVING ON BACK OF FLOAT

4. VARIOUS OF MEN DRESSED AS ELVIS PRESLEY WAVING TO FANS FROM VEHICLE

5. AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN FLAGS FLYING ON BACK OF VEHICLE IN PARADE

6. MEN DRESSED AS ELVIS PRESLEY WAVING FROM VEHICLE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELVIS FAN AND PARADE PARTICIPANT, GRAHAM LAWRENCE, SAYING:

"If you look out along the side of the road you'll see the saloon, you'll see horses, you'll see a lot of hay going around at the moment and a lot of happy people."

8. PARADE PARTICIPANTS AND FLOATS MOVING DOWN STREET ON PARADE ROUTE

9. MAN DRIVING TRACTOR ON PARADE ROUTE WITH HAY ON BACK / MAN DRESSED AS ELVIS WAVING

10. WOMEN ON FLOAT WITH ARTIFICIAL HORSE AND REAL DOG

11. BALLOON ON CAR BUMPER READING (English): "LOVE" WITH GOLD ELVIS CUTOUTS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARKES ELVIS AMBASSADOR, AL "ALVIS" GERSBACH, SAYING:

"Well, it's going to be a lot cooler this time. We've always had issues with the heat so starting an hour earlier should make it a lot easier for us especially on the cars, also for the people in the back of the trucks they will hopefully get a little bit for shade."

13. PARADE PARTICIPANT HOLDING SIGN READING (English): "ELVIS"

14. FLOAT WITH PINK LIPS MOVING ON PARADE ROUTE

15. PEOPLE WITH CARDBOARD HEADS FASHIONED INTO ELVIS AND PRISCILLA PRESLEY ON BACK OF FLOAT

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARADE PARTICIPANT, MARGOT JOLLY, SAYING:

"I think because there is always something slightly different. It's lots of fun, everyone's in a great mood and everyone just wants to have a great time and I think, you know, in the world today having just a great time is, it's not harder to get but it's just nice to where everyone is smiling and friendly and keen to hear what your story is and why you love The King (Elvis) and yeah, so it's just so much fun."

17. VARIOUS OF VEHICLE MOVING ON PARADE ROUTE WITH LARGE RED COWBOY HAT

18. POSTER OF ELVIS PRESLEY ON VEHICLE

19. PEOPLE DANCING DRESSED AS FARMERS ON FLOAT VEHICLE WITH HAY BALES

20. PLATINUM ELVIS (DRESSED IN HOT PINK JUMPSUIT) WALKING PARADE ROUTE

21. PLATINUM ELVIS POSING FOR MEDIA WEARING JUMPSUIT WITH EAGLE CAPE

22. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELVIS TRIBUTE ARTIST, PLATINUM ELVIS, SAYING:

"Full of love, full of joy, wind but really amazing, they have done an amazing job to invigorate the festival this year and it's just even better than ever."

23. VARIOUS OF WOMEN DRESSED AS QUEEN OF HEARTS WALKING DOWN PARADE ROUTE

24. FLOAT MOVING ON PARADE ROUTE AS WOMAN THROW CONFETTI FROM BASKETS

25. MEN DRESSED AS ELVIS PRESLEY ON FLOAT

26. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARKES LOCAL AND PARADE SPECTATOR, HEATHER WYTHES, SAYING:

"The parade is always fabulous, a big highlight of our Elvis Festival. Just love coming along and seeing all the effort that all of the people that visit our town or local to our town enjoy."

27. VARIOUS OF PARADE PARTICIPANTS DRESSED AS ELVIS AND WESTERN THEME RUNNING TOWARDS CAMERA AND CHEERING

28. PEOPLE DRESSED AS ELVIS WALKING ON PARADE ROUTE