Little Graceland to Host 2016 Annual Elvis Festival Saturday, January 9th

Little Graceland in Los Fresnos, Texas will present the 2016 Annual Elvis Festival on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Simon Vega’s Little Graceland is located at 701 W. Highway 100.

Gates will open at 9:30 a.m. with adults tickets $8 and children 12 and under free. The museum will be open from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Many Elvis Tribute Artists have been booked for the event.

Vega, who was born October 8, 1935 and is a retired high school teacher, became a personal friend of singer Elvis Presley while the two served together in the United States Army in Germany from 1958—1960. In 1993, Vega turned his house into a museum called “Little Graceland” located in his native Los Fresnos in Cameron County north of Brownsville, Texas. “Little Graceland” is loosely patterned on Presley’s mansion, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 1978, a year after Presley’s early death, Vega composed a song, “The Ballad of Elvis Presley”. He produced three thousand copies and has five remaining ones for his personal collection. Little Graceland is a home converted into a shrine to the man dubbed “The King” of rock and roll music. The museum contains many pictures of Presley, some with Vega, which the museum owner considers among his most prized possessions.

Vega, with assistance from the Los Fresnos Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Los Fresnos, holds the Elvis festival annually in January, the month of Presley’s birth. The festivities include live music, food and beverages, a lookalike contest, a sing-alike competition, automobile shows, trivia questions, and museum tours. The highlight of the festivities are the impersonators that come from far and wide to perform the Elvis hits on stage. This year the line-up includes performers such as; Doug Perser, Henry Vasquez, Jorge Corona, Luis Salazar Jr., Eddie Carson, Danny Lee Garza, Bill Chrastil, and Domingo Caravajal.

Here are some fun facts about Elvis Presley and Simon Vega:

Elvis was born January 8, 1935 – Simon was born October 8, 1935. Elvis was 7 years older than Priscilla – Simon is 7 years younger than Teresa, his wife. Elvis’ name has 5 letters – Simon’s name has 5 letters. Elvis was born in a two room shack – Simon was born in a two room shack. Elvis learned to play guitar at a Baptist church as a 12 year old upon his parents request – Simon learned to play guitar at a Catholic church as a 12 year old upon his parents request. Elvis named his home Graceland – Simon named his home Little Graceland. Elvis’ father was named Vernon Presley – Simon’s father was named Pablo Vega. Elvis was inducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and took basic advance training at Fort Hood, Texas in 1958 – Simon was inducted at Fort Carson, Colorado and took basic advance training at Fort Hood, Texas in 1958. In the Army, Elvis weighed 172 pounds and was 5 ft. 11 inches tall – In the Army, Simon weighed 172 pounds and was 5 ft. 11 inches tall. Elvis did not smoke or drink in the army – Simon does not smoke nor drink. Elvis’ favorite snack was a peanut butter and banana sandwich – Simon’s favorite snack is a peanut butter banana split. Elvis was born on January 8, 1935 – Rosie (Simon’s daughter) and her husband Farid were married on January 8, 2008.

When Presley died, Vega says that he was so personally devastated that he began collecting anything with a connection to his friend. Vega’s countless pieces of memorabilia are displayed in glass cases or line the walls of the museum. He has a bottle of “Love Me Tender” shampoo, the same name as a Presley song and film. There are key chains, playing cards, dolls, pocketknives, neckties, watches, and a complete set of Presley collector plates. Word of Little Graceland spread nationally, as vacationers and winter residents heading to South Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico stopped to view the replica of the gates of Graceland in front of Vega’s house. Vega has also constructed a doghouse-size replica of Presley’s boyhood home in Tupelo, Mississippi.

“Little Graceland” museum hours are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm. Otherwise call: (956) 233-5482 for groups or private showings.