“I learned how important it is to entertain people and give them a reason to come and watch you play”∼∼Elvis Presley.
And entertain he did. Fans from all across the globe are getting ready to celebrate the legendary life of Elvis Presley, starting tomorrow August 9 and going on till August 18, 2018 in Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee. Where will you be during this week-long celebration? The festival is a big deal for fans because of the legacy the rock-n-roll King has left behind. Starting August 9, the event will kickstart with the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Showcase, followed by a day excursion of Tupelo in Mississippi, birthplace of Elvis Presley on August 10. Guests will be given a tour of each and every aspect of Elvis’ early years; from Elvis Presley Museum to the “Walk of Life” —trail of his career and personal life. Back in Graceland Soundstage (Aug 10), let the world’s best tribute artists perform on stage to further move on to the Final Round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Showcase.
August 11 is for the Mississippi Delta Blues Tour. The tour includes a guided tour of the Delta Blues Museum, Grammy Museum Mississippi, Southern Sounds at Dockery Farms (home to Charley Patton, the “Father of the Blues”. The backroads of the delta is where you can trace the influence of blues, rock ‘n’ roll and R&B genres—a deep rooted history and culture in the form of music, art and food. If a cultural tour is not what you are looking for, then there is the 36th Annual Elvis 5K Run starting and finishing at the gates of Graceland. Also, they say this year’s Elvis Week is going to be the best one so far. Probably because at Graceland Soundstage, there’s going to be an exclusive launch party where the new “Where No One Stands Alone” featuring Lisa Marie Presley is scheduled to be released. Book ahead if you don’t want to miss out on the launch!
Sunday, August 12, is every collector’s dream. Auction at Graceland will see collector’s items, from those owned by Elvis to the ones gifted by him to written collectibles of Elvis’. Each and every item thoroughly researched item has been certified by Graceland Authenticated. The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Final Round is on this day whereby top 10 Elvis tribute artists will compete for the title. Tickets for this event are available here.
Monday, August 13, is for a visit to Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Centre at 877 Jefferson Ave, Memphis; Elvis Fan Reunion at the Grand Ballroom of the guest house at Graceland; and 7pm onwards it’s a party scene with a concert by The Blossoms’ lead singer Darlene Love, who also sang with Elvis Presley in his 68 Comeback Special. End the musical day with the Elvis Week Dance Party at the Grand Ballroom of The Guest House at Graceland. Relive the King’s moves as DJ Argo spins some of the greatest Elvis’ records.
These are just some of the highlights of the week-long event; rest of the week, one can be a part of Conversations on Elvis (August 14) or attend the Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Celebration Concert (August 14, 7pm). There is a Musical Salute to Elvis with a candlelight vigil on August 15 at Graceland Soundstage from 4:30pm onwards that you wouldn’t like to miss; there’s another Tupelo Tour for those interested on August 16; Annual Elvis Memorial Service at University of Memphis Main stage from 12:00pm onwards; Party at Elvis Presley’s Memphis on August 17; another round of Mississippi Delta Blues Tour on August 18; Elvis Week Brunch at the Grand Ballroom of The Guest House at Graceland from 9:30am; and finishing off the week-long event with a concert by TG Sheppard and Kelly Lang and finally Elvis Live in Concert with an All-Star Band.