A Small Welsh Town Doubles in Size for Elvis Fans Every Year
Porthcawl was a vacation spot for coal miners, and locals say they connect with Elvis Presley's humble beginnings.
The Headlines · A.I.-Generated Ads Flood the Midterms, and Teenager Kills 4 at Oregon Elementary SchoolEvery year, as many as 40,000 Elvis fans pour into Porthcawl, Wales, basically doubling the size of the small seaside town.
Porthcawl once welcomed crowds of Welsh miners on vacation, and locals feel a bond with American performer Elvis Presley's own humble beginnings. It is a slightly unlikely home for the celebration, since Elvis never performed there, and never really performed outside the United States except for a few stops in Canada.
The festival has been running for more than two decades. Attendees dress in jumpsuits and sequins, the Porthcawl Male Voice Choir performs each year, and there is even a separate costume contest just for dogs, or rather, hound dogs.
Questions people ask
Did Elvis ever perform in Britain?
No. Elvis never toured Britain and never played in Wales. His only performances outside the United States were a handful of shows in Canada in 1957.
When does the festival take place?
It is usually held in late September and runs over a weekend. Dozens of tribute artists perform in pubs, clubs, and halls around town, and fans spend much of the time in costume.
What is Porthcawl like the rest of the year?
Porthcawl is a seaside town in southern Wales, in Bridgend County. It grew as a holiday destination for miners and other workers, and today it has about 16,000 residents.