Elvis lives on in Outback Australia

Jan 11, 2008, 1:47 GMT

Sydney - A chartered train with seven carriages full of Elvis Presley fans left Sydney on Friday for the 380-kilometre ride to the Australian Outback town of Parkes and the biggest King of Pop festival in the southern hemisphere.

Honouring the fat-laden diet that helped Elvis to an early death in 1977, the first stop in Parkes is likely to be at one of several all-day, all-you-can-eat breakfasts.

The five-day festival drew 7,000 visitors last year. According to Parkes tourism manager Kelly Hendry, the 'indications already are that this year will be even bigger and better.'

There are more than 80 events, including invitations for couples to refresh their wedding vows before the only licensed Elvis and Priscilla marriage celebrant in Australia.

A highlight of the weekend will be hundreds of impersonators singing Love Me Tender in unison.

Hendry said that Parkes doubles in size at Elvis Festival time, and hotel accommodations were booked up years in advance.

'We have home-hosting, which involves almost 500 nights of accommodation, while the tent city is treble what it was last year,' Hendry said.