MINI-ELVIS was on Main Street for this year’s festival in Garden Grove (OC Tribune photo).

By Philip Ho/Orange County Tribune

The 23rd Annual Elvis Festival had Garden Grove’s Main Street rocking and rolling all day on Sunday. This year’s theme, “The Spirit of Elvis,” reminded fans of the influence that gospel music had on the “King of Rock and Roll.”

Beneath the sunshine from the October morning sky, excitement reigned on the historic street in the heart of the downtown area. People of all ages dressed up and wearing their favorite Elvis  memorabilia. A grandpa of two grandchildren wore his bedazzled white Elvis suit while his 8-year-old grandson sported black pants, a white T-shirt, and a slick pompadour.

Arrayed along both sides of the street were food vendors and Elvis-themed booths.  Coastline Community College  sponsored an Elvis-themed singing contest for students from the local high schools. 

The main prize of the festival is an all inclusive 2024 Princess & The King, 16-day Hawaii cruise trip through the donation from Azteca Restaurant & Lounge. Honoring Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, the festival hosted local shelters Pawprints in the Sand and I. C.A.R.E Dog Rescue.

As usual, the Elvis Festival is never short of entertainment, from the start of the festival to the end, both children and adults were shaking and grooving to the spirit of rock and roll. Morning entertainment included singers like Kirk Wall, Martin Anthony, and featured Oleksandr Silaiev from the Ukraine. Followed by afternoon’s entertainment that included Krazy Kirk and The Hillbillies, Lil Joe Banueles, Martin Anthony, and Neil Morrow & Memphis 54. Closing out the show, Scott Bruce had the audience on its feet with his “Rockin’ tribute to the King” performance.

The event was again organized by Jill Lloyd. Among the event’s sponsors was the Garden Grove Downtown Business Association.