Huge Crowds Attend 2007
Collingwood Elvis Festival

Thousands Line Downtown Streets To View The 2007 Tribute Artist Classic Car Parade


Returning Champions Say
Collingwood Festival Continues
To Be The Best In The World

They came from all parts of Canada, the United States and around the world. Once again the Collingwood Elvis Festival has lived up to its billing as the largest festival of its kind in the world. "This really is the very best festival" said Collingwood Elvis Festival Past Champion Robin Kelly. "It's kind of like a home reunion every time I come to this featival. The people organizers and all of the people who come here every year make it an amazing festival" Kelly said. "It's like seeing old family and there's nothing else like it that I've ever experienced" said Kelly, who lives in Edmonton, Alberta. Kelly said he doesn't compete any longer. He enjoys performing the music of Elvis Presley more than competing for a title. "Collingwood is a beautiful town and I will forever be in dept to this festival because it gave me my start" Kelly said.

Thousands of visitors and over 140 Tribute Artists enjoyed the Friday Night Street Party, a portion of which was broadcast live on A Channel Television News. Rumours of rain and thunderstorms were just that ... rumours ... as the dark clouds moved away providing an excellent evening for enjoying the music in Collingwood's downtown.

This year the Collingwood Elvis Festival received $93,750.00 from the Ministry of Tourism. As a part of the Celebrate Ontario Festival and Event Enhancement, the Ministry of Tourism provided the Collingwood Festival with $75,000.00 for programming enhancements and $18,750.00 to help with Festival marketing..

The Tribute Artist Classic Car Parade is a huge fan favourite and the 2007 version proved to be bigger and better than ever. Threats of rain passed by Collingwood as excellent weather greeted early morning visitors and Elvis Tribute Artists on Saturday, July 28th.

The day began even earlier than the 9am parade with a 7:30am pancake breakfast downtown. Following the parade, Elvis Tribute Artists moved on to various private venue performances and downtown Pine Street Stage competitions. This year, the historic Gayety Theatre in downtown Collingwood hosted more events including Saturday's Starshine Series from 9am to 4pm.


2007 Champion - Jay Zanier


The 2007 Collingwood Elvis Festival Champion is Jay Zanier from Guelph. Zanier has been singing the music of Elvis for 15 years and now will receive $3,000.00 and will represent the Collingwood Elvis Festival at the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition in Memphis in August.


 



Collingwood Deputy Mayor Sandra Cooper visited with 1050 CHUM Morning Host Gord James at the Collingwood Elvis Festival while Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier is pictured with one of last year's Champions, Lance Dobinson.

2007 Results From The Collingwood Elvis Festival - Click Here
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