As early as 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, Penticton鈥檚 Okanagan Lake Park was filled with Elvis Presley enthusiasts eager to watch some of the world鈥檚 best tribute performers take the stage.
Canada鈥檚 largest and longest-running Elvis Tribute Festival officially returned to the Peach City on Friday after a two-year hiatus and event organizers are already calling this year鈥檚 edition a huge success.
鈥淚n terms of how many people showed up, Friday was our best opening day ever,鈥� said Dave Martin, the festival鈥檚 president.
Performers from as close as Vancouver and Seattle to as far as Amsterdam and London were among those to take the stage on Saturday morning.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been to Canada before, until today,鈥� said Casper Slee, an Elvis tribute performer from the Netherlands. 鈥淓lvis is massive in Europe, so it鈥檚 just so great to be here and represent.鈥�
International representation on stage is particularly strong this year, with the majority of worldwide performers hailing from the U.K., according to the festival鈥檚 vice president Mike Schell.
鈥淚 think after being away for a couple of years, everyone鈥檚 just so excited to have this back,鈥� Schell said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been part of this festival for 17 years and the crowds yesterday were among the best ever. Even today, it鈥檚 only 10 a.m. and the park is filled.鈥�
Performers 鈥� aged from 20 to 65 鈥� will appear at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Saturday night, before returning to Okanagan Lake Park on Sunday morning.
The SOEC will host the festival鈥檚 finals on Sunday night, where one performer will be crowned the champion and take home $2,500. Along with the cash, the winner will be sent to Memphis, Tenn. to perform at the 鈥淯ltimate Elvis Finals.鈥�
鈥淭oday, it鈥檚 about giving the people a great show,鈥� Slee said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how Elvis did it every single time and there鈥檚 no better place to do it than here鈥eautiful lake and beautiful mountains.鈥�
