Brush off those blue suede shoes, the Lake George Elvis Fest kicks off next Wednesday, May 31 with free-to-attend Opening Ceremonies at 7 p.m. in Shepard Park. The festival runs through June 4 with three major concerts, several preliminary rounds of the 2017 Ultimate Elvis Tribute contest, nightly Elvis After Hours parties, Elvis boat cruises and the Elvis Classic Car Parade. This is the 14th year for the festival and will feature all 10 of Graceland’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artists.
“This year marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ passing, and it’s bigger and better than ever,” says Festival Director Jason Sherry. “We expect record attendance at this year’s event, which presents a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both longtime Elvis fans as well as those visiting one of our festivals for the first time.”
The festival began in 2004 as a two-day event. It is now recognized as the second-largest Elvis Tribute Artist competition in the world. In 2007, when Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. launched the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition, the Lake George Festival was one of a few competitions selected to be a qualifying round.
“What is an ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist’? This is the highest honor a tribute artist can receive. Performers from all over the world compete at regional events, such as ours in Lake George, in order to qualify to compete in Memphis in a
contest put on by Graceland. Come to the festival May 31–June 1to see just why these artists were chosen among their peers as the best of the best.” – Festival Director Jason Sherry, President of Sherry Management, LLC.
During the five days of Elvis Fest, visitors to Lake George Village can expect to spot several versions of the King out and about the town, a nostalgic bit of Americana having lunch on a lakeside deck or boarding the Minne-Ha-Ha. Organizers expect 5,200 fans to attend this year’s festival. Although it’s always crowded, you still can find some room. Tickets and the complete schedule of events are available at the Lake George Elvis Fest website.