Elvis in Collingwood for 18 years

 

By Sharon Weatherall

The Collingwood Elvis Festival on July 25 - 28, 2013 is the biggest festival of its kind in the world and it’s in my own backyard.

Everyone my age grew up listening to the radio music of Elvis Presley while seeing his face on television and of course, in the tabloids. After all you can’t be royalty and not attract scandal. In the final years of his life, the aging Rock King drew a lot of attention from stories related to drugs, his strange habits and growing girth due to love of rich and bizarre foods including peanut butter.  But whatever he did didn’t matter to his die-hard fans – any publicity was worthwhile when it was about Elvis. He was my idol and I loved his handsome mug no matter how chubby it got. And I loved his dedication - he never gave up his love of performing no matter how hard it was on him. Sweating profusely, eyes swollen and closed, struggling to deliver a few karate kicks, the King always delivered a walloping show for screeching followers who adored him.  Those who were lucky enough to afford it may have flown into Vegas to watch one of his concerts during the many years he performed there.  

When I was just 20 the news of his untimely death hit me like a sledgehammer – the King was dead. On August 16^th, 1977 as word leaked out about his tragic demise thousands of people swarmed Graceland laying flowers and carving their names in the stone wall surrounding the mansion. Fans in every country bemoaned his loss in different ways holding candle light vigils, prayer gatherings and public film events of his concerts and movies. In Hawaii when the news broke sobbing Polynesians made for the water and threw in flower leas. A girlfriend of mine who was vacationing there at the time thought the world was coming to an end – later she was caught up in the sorrowful atmosphere that shook the Pacific Island and cried through a good portion of her vacation.  
The loss of Elvis Presley was never really accepted and I would have to say to this day he is one of the most grieved musicians in the history of the music world – he was the King after all. I know it took me at least a year to get over the initial shock - I spent months going over tabloid stories and rumours, collecting memorabilia and even made my new husband drive me to Memphis on our honeymoon the year after Elvis died. We landed at the gates of Graceland in February during a rain storm that lasted for four days. Visitations to his grave had recently begun but because of the rain they were not allowing anyone on the grounds for insurance reasons.

I was devastated that we had to continue on to Florida the next day, however I did get Elvis’ father’s autograph after a hydro meter man allowed us on his property. We had been told by an Elvis memorabilia store owner where Vernon lived – his home was located on the street backing Elvis’ property – a city block enclosed by the stone wall. They said Vernon Presley sometimes came out to talk to visitors. We parked in the rain for an hour in front of his place before I made my husband go to the door and knock. When it opened he proceeded to give Mr. Presley (who was in the middle of shaving) a sob story about how we had driven all the way from Canada to find locked gates. He invited us both to come in and signed my recently purchased ‘Concert Years’ book and told us how sorry he was that we could not get into Graceland grounds. Looking back it should have been me apologising to him for our disrespectful behavior knocking on the poor guy’s door when he was still deeply mourning the death of his beloved son. Vernon Presley died about two years after Elvis on June 26, 1979.

I never went back to Graceland even though there was always an ach in my heart when I thought of Elvis and what his loss meant to so many. Over the years I listened to his music and got out my scrapbook from time to time. In 1995 I was overjoyed to find out that Collingwood, Ontario – a town close by me, was organizing an ‘Elvis Festival’. What a fabulous idea - I couldn’t believe it.  What were the odds? That first year the festival was small with a handful of tribute artists performing – but the weather was great and the venue set a perfect ‘stage’ for such an event. During the next few years the festival developed a reputation for professionalism and the town’s welcoming atmosphere, drawing ‘Elvi’ and fans from around the world. I never dreamed that it would someday gain global recognition, never mind still be going strong 18 years later!

Attended by tens of thousands of visitors annually, the award-winning Collingwood Elvis Festival is a four-day celebration of the life, music and career of Elvis Presley. From every corner town the voices of rockin’ and rollin’ tribute artists are amplified throughout the days and nights. Local folks can sit and tap their toes without even leaving their porches – others are at the party dancing and tipping back a few beers.

 Re-creating the nostalgia of an era, the upcoming 2013 festival will deliver a wide variety of family-friendly, multigenerational music at the picturesque tourist destination. Chosen as one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario for seven consecutive years, the Collingwood Elvis Festival is proud to be included as a qualifying location for the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. For more details about the upcoming event visit the web site: CollingwoodElvisFestival.com.

The complexity surrounding a festival of this scale is made possible by an experienced  group of organizers and hundreds of dedicated volunteers that sign up to help out each year. Throughout the weekend there are tribute artists performing at numerous indoor and outdoor venues in the town and other local communities. In almost two decades of festivals there has only ever been very few times when rainy weather has interrupted and this only lasted for a few hours or a day before things would ‘swing’ back to normal. Attending Elvis fans are a hearty crew who come prepared with umbrellas and raincoats… just in case. The cost to attend the outdoor public part of festival is minimal, while most of those attending indoor concerts and finals paid for tickets that are usually sold out the year before.

With big name sponsors the like of OLG, Tim Hortons, West Jet, Molson/Coors, the Province of Ontario, widespread radio, television and the internet media including Wireless Personal Communications Inc. (WPCI), publicity for the event is phenomenal. The tribute artists themselves are top notch performers and range in categories from professional, non-professional, gospel and youth.

 Everyone who ever wanted to impersonate the King has an opportunity to try no matter what their age or gender. In fact the Collingwood area has produced many talented young performers from its own midst – winning tribute artists that have attended the festival since childhood and dreamt about entertaining on stage.
 The Friday night ‘Street Party’ hosts no less than 25,000 people who begin setting up their lawn chairs on Hurontario Street in Collingwood early in the morning to ensure the very best seats.  The road is closed off for three or four blocks with a grandeur stage where all tribute artists get a chance to sing one of Elvis’ songs during the evening.

For locals who live in the area the Elvis Festival is either a tradition they never miss or a time to get-out-of-town while the gettin’ is good. As early as the week before, Elvi can be seen on the streets strumming guitars and signing autographs while fans from across the nation begin filling camp areas and booking into hotels. Collingwood is located on Georgian Bay a high end tourism area with tons to do and see. Throughout the actual four day event people not only dress in 50’s and 60’s clothing – poodle skirts, flip hairdos, glittering jackets and leather pants but they don sideburns, wear gold glasses and wildly exaggerated pompadour wigs. It’s a fun time for all involved. Friday and Saturday nights have massive indoor and outdoor beer gardens that fill up with people to watch the live entertainment on stages around the town.

Everyone has their own story about Elvis and why they come to the festival. Talking to Elvis fans like a friendly couple who came all the way from UK one year, is a hoot. They joked about a rain storm which sent people running for shelter earlier that weekend.
 
“You might have known it was a person from England who won, he brought the rain with him,” laughed Philip and Linda Shuttleworth of Newcastle UK following The Grande Finals of the 2011 Collingwood Elvis Festival (CEF).

While the rain fell outside cooling off one of the worst heat waves of the summer, the couple’s fellow countryman Pete Storm was inside sizzling – the London tribute artist was crowned Professional Concert Year Champion and overall winner to represent Collingwood in Memphis Tennessee at the Ultimate Elvis Competition later that summer.

The Shuttleworths said they had ever heard of Pete Storm before coming to the Collingwood Elvis Festival that year but not because he hasn’t been working to build a reputation back home. Storm who won 2011 ‘Images’ King Champion in Wales and European ETA Master sang at Los Vegas in January 2012 during the celebration of Elvis’ birthday. 

Storm topped a list of 121 tribute artists from around the world performing in the Collingwood competition and festival organizer Rosemarie O’Brien was proud to announce there were quite a few new names on that list that year. She said Storm being new to the festival and winning the whole thing was amazing but not unheard of.

“Ben Klein did the same thing the year he won. I call them dark horses who come in and sweep the light. It is very encouraging to have so many new tribute artists,” related O’Brien.

There are always special guests attending the festival each year from members of the Memphis Mafia who surrounded Elvis when he was alive to starlets that made movies with him during his years in film. In 2011 rescued Chilean miner Edison Pena  - a huge Elvis fan, became an amazing draw for the festival thanks to ‘Celebrate Ontario’ for funding his visit. While trapped underground Pena entertained fellow miners by crooning them with Elvis songs.

“When rescued, Edison was taken to Memphis and Graceland so I thought he needed to see the biggest Elvis festival in the world,” said O’Brien, indicating that when he left the Chilean singer  would be seeing other areas of Ontario including a visit to Niagara Falls.


So the event boasts growth and history over 18 years as well as excitement and top notch entertainment. In 1995 the first years of the Collingwood Elvis Festival Ray Guillemette, Jr., USA won first place in the professional category and Anthony Giavon, Canada won first in the non-professional category. Last year the following tribute artists took home titles: Professional Early Years - 1st place winner – Matt Dowsett (Cage), Canada, 2nd place winner – Bruce Andrew Stewart, Canada and 3rd place winner – Brent Morrey, Switzerland. Professional Concert Years - 1st place winner – Ben Portsmouth, UK, 2nd place winner – Jesse Aron, USA and 3rd place winner – Oliver Steinhoff, Germany. Non Professional Early Years - 1st place winner – Brycen Katolinsky, Canada, 2nd place winner – Norm Ackland Jr., Canada and 3rd place winner – Richard Wolfe, Canada. Non Professional Concert Years - 1st place winner – Anthony Carbone, Canada, 2nd place winner – Kevin Bezaire, Canada and 3rd place winner – Sam Calleri, Canada. Canadian Star Challenge - Winner – Brycen Katolinsky, Canada. Inspirational Elvis - 1st place winner – Thane Dunn, Canada, 2nd place winner – Corny Rempel, Canada and 3rd place winner – Anthony Carbone, Canada. Youth Senior - 1st place winner – Drake Milligan, USA, 2nd place winner- Mason Cigan, Canada and 3rd place winner – Brenen Katolinsky, Canada. Youth Junior -1st place winner – Connor Russo, Canada, 2nd place winner – Ethan Chalmers, Canada and 3rd place winner – Aaron Gallant, Canada.

The line-up of 2013 tribute artists is already forming up and promises to be equally as impressive as other years with talent from around the world joining the rooster. A summary of events that can be found along with other details on the official website: CollingwoodElvisFestival.com 

Don’t forget the parade on Saturday morning. It features waving and kissing Elvi affixed to beautiful antique and rare cars from every era. Great photo opportunities and it’s a highlight of the festival!

As for me I am getting ready for my company to come and stay for the entire weekend like they do every year. My cousin Cathy and her friend Lisa would not miss the Elvis Festival and we wouldn’t miss having them. Cathy wears blinking buttons and Elvis scarves from every festival. There are other guests that come and stay from time to time some new and some returns, but each and every one goes home with a sore belly from laughing and enough memories to last until its festival time again the next year.