The Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association (DTMSA) is excited to present the 27th annual Tupelo Elvis Festival, celebrating Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday. The event will take place from June 4 -7 at the historic Lyric Theatre on Broadway Street. The festival will also highlight a variety of events across downtown Tupelo.
Once known as “The Strand,” the Lyric Theatre played a key role in Presley’s early career. At eight years old, Presley won his first singing contest on stage. At 16 years old, he competed once again but did not place. According to local lore, the popular musician also received his first kiss there.
DTMSA executive director Lucia Randle expressed her excitement about the annual celebration and encouraged tourists and locals alike to go ahead and make plans to attend the festival.
“2025 is the perfect time to experience the historic theatre’s charm and nostalgia as our city celebrates the 90th birthday of Elvis with ‘Catch the Spirit’ activities throughout the year,” Randle said. “In addition to the concerts at The Lyric, free concerts will be held at The Depot in Downtown Tupelo on Friday and Saturday nights.
“This shift allows us to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for attendees while benefiting our local businesses. With its prime location in downtown Tupelo, the Lyric Theatre offers easy access to shopping, dining, and other attractions.”
The shift would be referring to the decision to move the Tupelo Elvis Festival back to the historic Lyric Theatre instead of hosting concerts at other venues. The reason for the shift is a more efficient financial and logistical approach that benefits guests and downtown businesses.
Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan highlighted the festival’s impact: “The Tupelo Elvis Festival benefits our city both economically and helps enhance Tupelo’s Elvis Birthplace brand. We welcome our local Elvis fans, as well as the many fans from throughout the U.S. and internationally. I am excited that The Depot, our beautiful new downtown venue, will be utilized for music and events during the festival.”
Tickets for the 2025 Tupelo Elvis Festival go on sale on March 18. Organizers expect tickets to sell quickly. For more information and the event’s full schedule, click here.
