The first Elvis Festival in the Northwest, sponsored by E.P.E and hoping to become as big as the one that is held in Collingwood Ontario every year. Although not seeing the 30,000 some odd people that make the yearly commute to Collingwood, Penticton did have its fair share of Elvis fans!
With names like Joe Esposito, DJ Fontana, & Darwin Lamm, it was a great opportunity for Elvis fans to have a chance to meet with the people that knew Elvis. I personally had the opportunity to stand beside these "stars" in the middle of a field watching the Sunday Gospel Session. Of course, being the Elvis fan that I am... they were quite easy to pick out!
No sooner had we arrived at the park and just hanging around, I noticed the first familiar head standing within arms reach in front of me. DJ really hasn't changed a bit in looks, although a bit older, but still in his glory.
After making a fool of myself, which isn't that hard.... I turned and started to relate my excitement, when in the middle of my cheerful speech about the who's, what's, and why's of who DJ was, I glanced up and realized I was standing in front of Joe Esposito!
I took a quick look around to see if anyone else had seen or recognized these men who were such a part of Elvis' life. I couldn't believe I was the only one noticing these fellows!
I think my better half was right when he said that most people must have wondered what I was all excited about. Because of course if you are not an Elvis fan-through and through... then you wouldn't have known really who or why I was asking for autographs!
So on with the show...
Heading out of town early Saturday morning, stopping to gas up-- I received an eyeful of Elvis on the front page of the local paper! By this time I couldn't gas up quick enough, I knew I couldn't get there any faster, but after reading the write up about Robin Kelly, Danny Vernon and the rest... I was ready to burst if I didn't get there- and soon!
Nestled in the Okanagan Valley, Penticton is a community surrounded by cherry trees, apple trees, and every conceivable flavor of ice cream that a roadside stand can carry! Today the flavour of the day was Elvis!
