Elvis Week to become largely virtual
Vigil, other activities to go on with limitations
Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises announced that the annual Elvis Week festivities will be dramatically scaled back and operate as a largely virtual event for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued Thursday, Graceland announced that “Given the current circumstances surrounding the health crisis, as well as within the Elvis/graceland Family, we have decided to significantly modify Elvis Week, eliminating any potential highrisk activity, including live performances, live appearances, group parties or meals, autograph signings and meet & greets.”
The circumstances “within in the Elvis/graceland Family,” appears to be a reference to the death of Benjamin Storm Keough, the 27-year-old son of Lisa Marie Presley and the grandson of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Keough died Sunday, in what was ruled a suicide by
the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.
Graceland noted that it had hoped to "safely host a full and robust Elvis Week, with minor changes to the planned schedule. But, as the COVID pandemic continues to evolve and health officials learn more about highrisk activities, we must evolve with them. There is no greater priority than the health and safety of our guests and employees.” Graceland is in the process of putting together a modified Elvis Week 2020 schedule, along with a Virtual Elvis Week option that will still allow fans to celebrate the life and legacy of Presley, who died in 1977.
Officials added that The Candlelight Vigil, scheduled for on August 15 at Graceland, will be “more limited than in past years, and will require free advanced reservations, but the longstanding tradition will carry on with a socially distanced fan procession to Meditation Garden.”
In terms of other physical celebrations, there will be daily screening events between August 8 and 16 at the Graceland Soundstage that will comply with recommended government protocols. According to Graceland officials, attendance at these events will be capped to meet or exceed social distancing and maximum capacity guidelines.
The programming will include a mix pre-recorded and new panels featuring those who knew Elvis, as well as content from the Graceland Archives, and specially edited concert clips from previous Elvis week shows.
Elvis Week Day Passes will be sold for $50 and include an Elvis Experience Tour of the Graceland Mansion, Elvis Presley's Memphis and other exhibits. Graceland is currently open, though operating at a reduced capacity.
The Virtual Elvis Week component will also feature a mix of highlights from past Elvis Week concerts and panels, as well as a live stream of the 2020 Candlelight Vigil (the live stream will also be available on Graceland.com, free of charge). Passes for the Virtual Elvis Week are $39, and are expected to go on sale shortly.