CARP in Collingwood for Elvis Festival

Did you know that it’s “Elvis Week” at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee? August 10-16th marks the celebration of the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s untimely death 34 years ago on August 16th, 1977.

A whole generation has grown up without “The King”, but his memory lives on for fans young and old, in music, television, movies, and YouTube videos. But if electronic memories are not enough, there are the scores of Elvis impersonators and tribute artists keeping the flame alive.

The Collingwood Elvis Festival, on the shores of Georgian Bay is the largest gathering of it’s kind in the world – and Ian Kerr, Chairman of the CARP Georgian Bay chapter and a team of local volunteers spent three days in July promoting CARP at the 17th annual gathering. Over 120 Elvis impersonators (including infamous Chilean Miner, Edison Pena) and tribute artists from around the world – and thousands of Elvis fans descended on small town Ontario for this fun and truly one of a kind community event.

Pete Storm from London, England won the professional event at the Collingwood Elvis Festival, winning entry into the grand-daddy of all Elvis Tribute competitions, this week in Memphis.