This past weekend’s Blue Suede Elvis tribute music festival in Busby could only be considered a smashing success.
What first started as a small gathering of Elvis Presley aficionados in Trudy Taphorn’s yard has since grown to the spectacle on display over the weekend — scores of RVs and hundreds of people milling about, enjoying the 19 Elvis tribute artists who performed all manner of Elvis songs.
The success of the festival, now in its fourth year, is just about without question. Its humble beginnings are now far in the rearview mirror, overtaken by the behemoth the festival has become.
While it may appear to be a case of one woman getting lucky finding something that many other people also enjoy, it’s also more than that.
Taphorn’s festival and the success it’s garnered is a perfect example of what can happen when you have the passion to make something happen.
It’s a testament to the fact that anyone can make anything happen anywhere. On its face, finding a big Elvis love-in smack dab the middle of the country is not exactly something that one would expect to see.
But it is there, and it’s proof of what’s possible when passion is combined with dedication and tenacity.
And it’s not the only example in the Westlock area, either. There are many examples of events and festivities that are now community touchstones that were once small gatherings.
There’s the demolition derby at the fair. It fills the stands because people love it, but it needed someone to take the reins for it to even exist in the first place.
Then there’s the CATS theatre series. Every year the organizers bring in acts big and small, to the delight of the art lovers in the community. These shows would not take place if it weren’t for the hard work the organizers have put in to book the acts and raise awareness.
So, if you want to bring a film festival to Westlock, have at it.
There are facilities in town that can hold an audience; all you need to do is get them booked. It won’t be a walk in the park in the beginning, but if you refuse to give up, the sky’s the limit.
