Presley fans go for annual festival in rural Australian town

Tacky wigs and terrible American accents have donned Sydney's Central Station for the annual migration to the Parks Elvis festival in celebration of the life of 'the king.'

The annual "Elvis Express" train departed Sydney on Thursday bound for the New South Wales state rural town of Parkes for the annual Elvis Festival, approximately 360 kilometres northwest of Sydney.

A 22,000 strong crowd is expected to attend the five-day festival, almost doubling Parkes' population, for a series of tribute concerts, impersonator contests, edible Elvis art and even an Elvis gospel service.

"It generates something like nearly 10 million AUD worth of income for tourism for Parkes and the surrounding regions, because accommodation is always tight," Parkes Mayor Ken Keith told Australia's national broadcaster on Thursday.

"Everyone gets into the fun and that's what's so special about the Parkes Elvis Festival. It's so friendly and everyone just has a really good time."

The "Elvis Express" is Australia's premier Elvis event with singing contests between fans and tribute performers going carriage to carriage taking turns singing to the revellers. It coincides with the late Elvis Presley' birthday each January.