This summer will see the return of one of the Okanagan Valley’s more unique traditions, the annual Penticton Elvis Festival.
The festival, which bills itself as “Canada’s largest and longest-running Elvis festival”, will see tribute acts to the iconic Elvis Presley from across Canada and beyond gather and be judged based on their ability and faithfulness. There will be a competition for the best impersonators in various categories, with the winner of the professional division qualifying for the Ultimate Elvis Finals in Memphis. The festival will begin and end with a kick-off and wind-up party respectively, with both hosted by Bruno Nesci.
In addition to the competition, there will be a Headliner Show with performances by internationally known tribute artists Jay Dupuis, Sylvain Leduc, and Corny Rempel, and a Sunday morning pancake breakfast accompanied by a tribute to Presley’s gospel influences. The festival will also feature actress and musician Linda Thompson, who dated Elvis in the 1970s, and her brother Sam, who was one of Presley’s bodyguards. Musical festivals and conventions such as this, often promoted through eye-catching flyer printing and local media ads, can help fans connect with the music they care about, past or present.
The 2023 edition of the Penticton Elvis Festival will take place on June 24 and 25 at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and Okanagan Lake Park.
