Grab your blue suede shoes and head to Tupelo for the 26th annual Elvis Festival! Festivities begin the night of Thursday, June 6, and run through Sunday afternoon, June 9.
26 years ago, Tupelo created the Elvis Festival, now a King City tradition, that honors their hometown boy. Locals and visitors come back each year to celebrate the King of Rock and Roll with a series of week-long events.
Now, during this iconic week, it is common for the streets of downtown Tupelo to be full of visitors from all over the world, as well as several Elvis tribute artists.
With a fantastic lineup of live music, local food trucks, Elvis tribute artists meet and greets, “Fling with the King Disk Golf Tournament” a “Run with the King 5K,” TCB Fights, and so much more, there is something for Elvis fans of all ages this week.
New this year is the “Soul for the King” pop-up experience: A Stax Museum of American Soul Music, with guest artist DJ Rockin’ Amy Dee and the 2014 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist, Jay Dupuis.
The festival will also include the “Becoming Experience,” which is a youth competition for ages 12-17. This experience provides the opportunity to work with world-class Elvis tribute artists and perform with a live band following the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Finals. The festival will conclude with a brunch and Sunday Gospel Concert at the Cadence Arena.
Along with all the planned Elvis festivities, visitors can take pictures with The King’s statue in downtown Fair Park and look for local art of him that is featured on several buildings. Be sure to look for the blue suede shoes painted on the sidewalks downtown and notice all of the unique guitar silhouettes that line Main Street.
Don’t forget to stop by Tupelo Hardware Company and pay tribute to a young Elvis, who walked into Tupelo Hardware in January 1946 with his sights set on a rifle. His mother, Gladys, convinced him to buy a guitar instead. Elvis strummed the new guitar and paid $7.75, plus two percent sales tax, and the rest, as they say, is history. You can also purchase Elvis souvenirs at Tupelo Hardware Company and several other local downtown shops.
Tupelo is well known for its delicious, local eateries. In fact, it was named by Southern Living as one of the next big food scenes in the South, and Elvis Week is no exception. There are fabulous menu items dedicated solely to the King. Dishes like “Blue Suede Grill,” from Cafe 212, “D’Love Me Tender Sandwich” from D’ Cracked Egg, “All Shook Up” cookies from Hollypops Bakery, and “The Priscilla” from Crave are sure to make your taste buds sing!
The Elvis Festival in Tupelo is full of music, history, great food, and fun! Tupelo is sure to shake, rattle, and roll, this week!
For a complete list of events, click here.
All photos are courtesy of the Tupelo Elvis Festival.
