Elvis Poetry Competition

Each year, Parkes Elvis Festival, invites all aspiring and published authors of poetry to submit their best and greatest unpublished poems inspired by this year’s festival theme of Jailhouse Rock with at least one mention of Elvis, the Parkes Elvis Festival or a Parkes Elvis Festival event. This competition is open to all Australian citizens or permanent residents, 18 years and over, with novice, open and people’s choice categories. All finalists will be announced at the beginning of the poets’ breakfast and will read or have their poem recited during the event for final judging. Please see our full Terms and Conditions for all our competition details.

Entry Deadline: Entries will be accepted from now up until midnight, Friday, 5 January 2024.

Length: Poems of up to 70 lines.

Theme: Jailhouse Rock with at least one mention of Elvis, the Parkes Elvis Festival or a Parkes Elvis Festival event.

Competition Entry fee: Free, all entries will also receive free entry to the Elvis Poets’ Breakfast – breakfast to be purchased separately.

Prizes:

Novice Category – author has not previously won or been shortlisted in a poetry competition or have been published
Winner $75 cash, Highly Commended, Commended

Open Category – author has previously won or been shortlisted in a poetry competition or have been published
Winner $150 cash, Highly Commended, Commended

People’s Choice Category
Prize $75 cash

The Elvis Poets’ Breakfast is held on the Thursday morning of the festival at the Parkes Services Club.

Breakfast is served from 6.30am ($10 bacon & egg roll, tea, coffee, juice)

Poetry readings start 7.30am.

Read the competition T&Cs here

Submit your entry online here: