Elvis Poetry Competition
Each year, Parkes Elvis Festival invites all aspiring and published authors of poetry to submit their best and greatest unpublished poems at the Elvis Poetry Competition and Breakfast.
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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year, Parkes Elvis Festival, invites all aspiring and published authors of poetry to submit their best and greatest unpublished poems inspired by this year’s festival theme of “Love Me Tender” with at least one mention of Elvis, the Parkes Elvis Festival or a Parkes Elvis Festival event.
Entries are now open and will close 30 November at 5pm 2025.
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.
Length: Poems of up to 70 lines.
Theme: Love Me Tender 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
- Open Category – author has previously won or been shortlisted in a poetry competition or have been published. Winner $150 cash
- People’s Choice Category – prize $75 cash
- Free Verse Prize – best poem using free verse style from either Novice Category or Open Category. Winner – publication of poem in the Suburban Review
The Elvis Poets’ Breakfast is held on the Friday morning of the festival at the Parkes Golf Club.
Breakfast is served from 7:30am
Poetry readings start 8:00am.
Contact
Event Organiser: Kerryn Jones
Email: Elvis@parkes.nsw.gov.au
Full Terms and Conditions for the Elvis Poetry Competition can be found here.