The 20th annual Elvis Festival has wrapped up for another season and organizers say this year’s event has been the most successful yet.
The music started first thing Sunday morning and downtown Collingwood was jammed with people for the final day of this year’s festival. One after another tribute artists took the stage providing free entertainment all day long.
“It gets better every year. I'm so glad the weather cooperated and the Elvis’…they are the best. We saw some at the village, we were here Friday night, we are going to the competition, just wonderful and I am from the era of the real Elvis,” says Collingwood resident Monique Greenwood
Don Thompson has been shuttling visitors around town all weekend.
“It's kind of global now so it really nice to see people from all over the world, people from New York, Texas, Sudbury…places like that.”
Organizers haven't made any estimates on exactly how many people have come to Collingwood for this year’s Elvis festival but by all accounts it has been the most successful in the festival's twenty year history.
The streets were filled with people for three straight days, indoor venues have been sold out, hotels have been booked and Sean Cripps has had a full house at his restaurant downtown
“Best ever - people have been great, tons of people around, sales are up.”
Tribute artist Sam Calleri comes every year.
“This year there is way more people than there have ever been because it's the 20 anniversary and Priscilla was here this is the biggest in the world.”
Burlington’s Sandra Aversa says this year was something special.
“I feel like there is better energy in air being the twentieth anniversary that's why I had to drag a newbie with me for the first time, we had to come down today it's fantastic.”
The festival wraps up Sunday night after the grand finale at the Eddie bush arena that's when the King of the Collingwood Elvis festival will be crowned.
