On Sunday, I went to my first Elvis festival. Yes, those still happen, and apparently one has been happening annually in Garden Grove, CA for 23 years. No, I haven’t found out why this tradition began in the year 2000. No, I didn’t learn about the festival through dorky, diligent research. As I’ve said before, people love bringing Elvis related news to my attention, and the other day a neighbor told me she saw an ad for the festival on Channel 7. I immediately took to the internet and found the festival’s Facebook page, which included an intro blurb about being “California’s only Elvis festival.”
I knew the festival wouldn’t draw much of a 30-something crowd. I knew the Elvis impersonators would have pale, hollow faces, and the gray-haired spectators wouldn’t get on their feet if cash rained from the sky. I also knew I had to see the unique display myself. I’m a writer. Writers check things out.
I promise I will tell you all about the experience, but first I need a minute to collect my thoughts. I also need to get to Anaheim on Saturday by 1pm so I can get my $20 back from the timeshare people and decide if I still want to go to Vegas (I might). I blame the rush of adrenaline that surged through me after I spun the giant wheel and landed on “Grand Prize”—I got swept up in the moment and wanted to manufacture more moments. Look at how much fun I’m having at this kooky Elvis festival! Maybe enduring a tour of a hotel for three nights in Vegas will be just as much of a hoot!
Honestly, it would probably be a bigger waste of money to drive to Anaheim and back than it would be to bid the $20 adieu, especially since an old man later offered to fly me out to Vegas and put me up at the Wynn. Much to think about. I promise I’ll tell you everything.
i've been roped into one of those very same timeshare schpiels in anaheim as well!!
was it wyndham for you too!!??
it was a nice guy at a dodger game who sold me with dreams of free trips to exciting far off exotic locales!!
i'm proud to say that i successfully talked him out of the pre-deposit though!! i just walked away saying i don't feel comfortable doing that....
after a moment he chased me down and said.... "i normally can't do this.... but i'll make an exception, if you really promise to come to the presentation??"
🤣🤣