We say the King ‘may’ be back this year, as the organisers are still to make a final decision on whether the event will go ahead. So far, all the concerts and competitions in the towns Pavilion Theatre are now cancelled, as the venue simply won’t be able to reopen by September.

Like so many of our organisations, this is a tough time for all of them. So much work has gone into preparing events like Elvies, for our enjoyment, and a lot of them are a key part of our calendars too. Any decision they make will be a difficult one, but always with everyone’s best interest and safety at heart.

The laters statement from the organisers says……

The Grand Pavilion has informed us that due to the uncertainty surrounding the theatre sector they have decided that the venue will be unable to reopen by the end of September.

Ticket holders for the Elvis Festival shows at the Grand Pavilion will be contacted by a box office email to the person who booked the tickets with a range of options on what to do next.  If you know that the venue is not holding a current email address, please advise by emailing box.office@awen-wales.com.

Following the Pavilion’s decision, we consulted with the other major venues that make up the Festival. Given how pivotal the event is to the local economy, and bearing in mind we are still over four months out, we have decided that it is premature to cancel the Festival at this stage.

It goes without saying that public health and safety is paramount and obviously if the event goes ahead it will be governed by regulations prevailing at the time. When those regulations are announced, which we understand to be early in July, we will consult again with the venues and then decide if it is feasible to stage the Festival.  

In the meantime, we would urge accommodation providers in the area to be flexible with their customers in respect bookings for the Festival weekend.

If you’ve never come across The Elvies before, I have to ask where have you been? First of all, you don’t have to be a fan of Elvis Presley to appreciate and enjoy what happens in Porthcawl every year, it really is just brilliant fun and one hell of a spectacle. This isn’t just your ordinary, everyday festival, this is Elvis on a scale like you’ve never seen. This festival isn’t just ONE NIGHT, as the King himself would say, it’s a whole weekend of Elvis shenanigans.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s just a load of Elvis fans, dressing up for a couple of days. Well, DON’T BE CRUEL because this is so much more than that. We think it’s about community and friendship at the end of the day. A large group of like-minded people, with a passion for the man and his music, gathering to celebrate something very special.

So onto the festival itself. Every September thousands, and we really do mean thousands of Elvis fans descend on the seaside town of Porthcawl for a unique celebration of The King. It’s certainly A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION and more music, but stories are shared over the weekend and the great man fondly remembered.There are many featured events and official shows. If you have left it too late, it’s always worth checking for any returned tickets.

Most of them take place in the magnificent Grand Pavilion (not this year). These include THE ELVIES, the World’s leading award Show for Elvis Tribute Artists. The Hi Tide hosts over 100 shows over the weekend, many with free admission. Finally, over twenty venues in and around the Town form the Fringe Festival, making Porthcawl the largest Elvis event in Europe.

The following venues form the Official Fringe. They all put top ETAs (Elvis Tribute Acts) on throughout the Festival and most shows are free. Full details of shows are listed in the Official Programme which is available in advance of the Festival at the Tourist Information Centre in John Street, The Grand Pavilion and The Hi Tide. During the Festival Programmes will also be available at the Festival Desk, situated in the Grand Pavilion

• THE BAY
• THE BLUE WATER CLUB
• THE BRENTWOOD HOTEL
• THE CABIN
• THE GENERAL PICTON
• THE PORTHCAWL HOTEL
• THE ROCK INN
• THE SEAHORSE
• THE SHIP & CASTLE
• THE SWAN

We told you, this is absolutely massive.

The award are so much fun with categories ranging from…….

• Best Movie Elvis
• Best Gospel Elvis
• Best Gold Lame Elvis
• Best 68′ Special
• Best Vegas Elvis
• Best Young Elvis
• Best Newcomer
• Best GI Elvis
• Lifetime Achievement

Here’s a look at all the previous winners……

You need to know about these because, as we’re sure you can imagine, with all the costumes, wigs, belts and rhinestones we can guarantee you will never see anything like it. Cameras by the ready for this one we reckon.

The whole town comes out in support of the Elvis Weekend, and why wouldn’t they, it’s incredible for trade and the economy. More than that however, it brings a real buzz to the area and anyone who has been will tell you they count down the days to ‘next year.’ Shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, hotels and guest houses are all packed.

The Official Shows usually take place in the magnificent Grand Pavilion, one of the best preserved 1930s dancehall theatres in the country. To give you a flavour of what usually goes on, here’s a previous schedule.

The Best Festival Elvis Competitions – Heats 1 and 2 along with the Grand Final.
The New Kings – showcasing ETAs making their debut at the Grand Pavilion.
The Elvies – recognised as the world’s leading award show for ETAs
The Elvis Gospel Show – produced by award winning ETA Dean Mack
Classic Elvis – featuring the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Quirk
Trilogy – Sun Studio, ’68 Special and Vegas 

As you can see, the organisers had quite a year planned for us all…….

The Hi-Tide is official sponsor of The Porthcawl Elvis Festival and hosts fifty Elvis’ performing over 100 shows in four bars during the weekend. Shows in the Harbour Lights Bar and Bayroom are free admission. We have a feeling things will be a little different for them as well this year. Their number is 01656-782432

Putting on an event of this magnitude needs the help and support of so many and the organisation are blessed to get just that.

World renowned Welsh artist and socialite, Sara Topham traditionally provides the Festival with its Image of Elvis. You can see her Elvis work for the festival, over the years right HERE.

Legendary Elvis Minstrels and House Band of the Porthcawl Elvis Festival. The greatest Rock ‘n Roll Band in Tredegar – Red Alert are well worth catching over the weekend, we only hope they find a way of performing should the event go ahead. Finally, what Elvis Festival would be complete without a bit (lot) of memorabilia? Elvis memories have the largest collection of licensed Elvis Presley Memorabilia for sale in the U.K. They’ll be there too.

Finding the festival is easy. They are based in Porthcawl, near to the Bristol Channel, about 18 miles from Lynton if you’re a good swimmer. Elvis HQ is usually the Grand Pavilion but we suspect that will be different this year. To be honest, just walking around the town over the weekend is entertainment enough, you won’t find a better atmosphere.

You Really CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE with a festival like this. The Elvies (hopefully) runs from the 25th to 27th September and it rally is one full on, incredible weekend which you simply have to see at least once. To find out more and see exactly what’s happening, where and when just CLICK HERE.