The street known as the home of the blues will become the heart of rock and roll August 10 with a red, white and blue salute to Elvis Presley including everything from Disney movie characters to an air show with a traditional "missing man" flight formation. The Beale Street parade will kick off Memphis's annual death-week tribute to Elvis, turning the annual rite into the "Elvis Presley 25th Anniversary Celebration of Life Parade." With up to 70,000 fans expected during the milestone anniversary week, the parade and nightlong street party are intended by Graceland and the city to thank more than 12 million Elvis fans who have traveled to Memphis since Elvis's death on Aug. 16, 1977.
The Army National Guard is supplying tanks, the 50-ton howitzers and other Army themes, while Elvis's love of cars and motorcycles will be represented by vintage sports cars, 40 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the NASCAR Elvis show car driven by Rusty Wallace and the Elvis funny car driven by John Force. As if watching over the parade, Elvis will be visible via a giant video screen set up outside Elvis Presley's Memphis at the end of the parade route.
Elvis Parade Beale Street
July 29, 2002 | Other