Each year as Collingwood Elvis Festival approaches, a rumour starts to circulate suggesting this is the last year for the world-famous event.
This year is no different. There’s also been talk of the Elvis Festival ending after next year’s event, which will be the 25th anniversary of the festival.
Here are the facts:
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In 2017, Collingwood’s current town council approved the continuation of the Collingwood Elvis Festival for a two-year term.
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At that time, Dean Collver, the town’s director of parks, recreation and culture, made a presentation to council giving the annual summary of events for 2017 and confirming the economic impact of the Elvis festival has been positive. He also said revenue risks remain, but costs are being “carefully controlled.”
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Council’s standing committee supported the continuation of the festival, but suggested if net costs continue to increase, council will need to revisit its decision.
So as it stands now, the Collingwood Elvis Festival will make it to next year for the 25th-anniversary event.
It will be the decision of a new council whether to continue hosting the Collingwood Elvis Festival.
Festival organizer Rosemarie O’Brien said she didn’t know what the future held for the festival, whether it continued as it currently exists, morphs into something new, or ends after the 25th-anniversary event.
“I hope I’ve done some good work and that the legacy would be there anyway, whether it continues or it doesn’t,” said O’Brien.
The 24th Collingwood Elvis Festival begins today (July 26) with a champion meet-and-greet event at 4 p.m. and an A&W classic car cruise event. Click here for the full schedule.
