Every September people flock to Porthcawl to celebrate the legend that is Elvis Presley. What started out as a saving grace for the forestalled closure of the local Pavilion has become a running tradition, and this year the Porthcawl Elvis Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary.
The 2024 festival went ahead despite the Pavilion’s renovation, with pubs having to turn customers away due to overcrowding. This money-making weekend brings crowds from far and wide in the daytime, but what changes when the lights go down and the drink comes out?
Elvis events by day
The daytime events are scattered with Elvis tribute competitions, the grand final being held on the Sunday afternoon. This year, those competitions were moved down to the Parkdean Resort in Trecco Bay, creating a hub for all things Elvis. Many vendors thought this would contain the crowds in one area of Porthcawl, with roads around the seafront being left open, much to the shock of locals. Some took to Facebook, complaining that open roads mixed with heavy drinking was a recipe for disaster.
As a Porthcawl local myself, I understand the complaints regarding the potential chaos of this event. In fact, before this weekend I had never been to the festival that puts Porthcawl on the map. I locked myself away, keeping up with the drama and complaints via social media. There is no doubt that this gave me a very negative outlook on the event.
However, as I weaved my way through crowds of unique-looking Elvises this year, I was able to understand what makes this event such a vibrant part of Porthcawl’s social calendar.
When talking with some people in the crowded streets, I was met by unmatched passion for Elvis and the joy of the festival itself. The daytime atmosphere was humorous and celebratory. People shared so many stories about what Elvis had meant to them and their families, with one Bridgend local calling him her “hero”.
The streets were decorated with American cars, and shops and restaurants trimmed their windows with their best Elvis paraphernalia. There were even Elvis-themed donuts!
An evening with Elvis
After a long day of hearing “Thang-you very much” maybe a few too many times, I decided to go home, put on my most Elvis-looking outfit – admittedly just some flared jeans and a sparkly top – and headed back out to see what the night might bring. Expecting to experience similar crowds as in the daytime, I was surprised to find that the evening atmosphere was completely different.
Gone were the hardcore Elvis fans, and in came younger people looking for a good time. Who can blame them? In recent years, Porthcawl’s night scene has nearly disappeared. The Pier Hotel has shut down and The Cabin nightclub will apparently close in the coming months, so you usually have to travel far for a good time.
This explained the number of people aged 16–25 that occupied the Hi-Tide and were packed into the local area. It was clear that the drinking culture surrounding this event brought young people from far and wide. I spoke to some mutual friends aged 17–18 who said, “Everyone knows that the day is for the hardcore fans and the night just turns into a piss-up.” I guess that also explained the dwindling number of ‘Pink Ladies’, who found themselves a quiet seat in a corner.
Getting through the crowds was a trying task, as everyone was practically on top of each other. Being the only club left in Porthcawl, The Cabin – a place where you will see everyone you ever went to school with – had a queue down the street, with people desperate to take their night to the dancefloor. Along with the drinking came the fighting, and an overwhelming police presence. Are these more rowdy events a further result of the attraction that the Elvis Festival brings?
The need for nightlife
It seems like the concentrated nature of the festival does have its problems. However, my question is this: is that fallout from the countless nightclub and bar closures seen throughout Porthcawl and the surrounding area? If there is this much demand from young people to have a place to go with their friends on a Saturday night, why are such places closing?
The root of local complaints all lie with young people causing trouble and using the weekend as an excuse to get drunk or violent. But if there were more places to go, would this still be the case?
Overall, my first time at the Elvis Festival was a real eye-opener. I experienced the rather choppy change from the daytime atmosphere to the nighttime, concluding that this event really does have it all.
From committed Elvis fans to young people looking for a good time, the Porthcawl Elvis Festival is no doubt a highlight of the calendar for local businesses. But the nighttime events do lead me to question whether the demand for nightlife in Porthcawl is really diminishing? Or whether a variety of supply isn’t meeting demand?
