FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610
Phone (813) 621-7821             Fax (813) 740-3505             http://www.floridastatefair.com/

[NEWS RELEASE] TAMPA, FL. — February 14, 2008.   The Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals headlines the second weekend of the annual Florida State Fair on Saturday and Sunday, February 16 and 17.  The Elvis Extravaganza is a two-day event featuring the best of the Elvis Impersonators from all across the nation competing in Tampa for the national title.

Scheduled performances will take place on both days at 1, 3 and 6 p.m. in the Sweetbay Entertainment Hall.  The first set of rounds at 1, 3, and 6 p.m. on Saturday features performers attempting to qualify for the final round. The second set of rounds on Sunday is where the competition really heats up. Open rounds end after the 1 p.m. show on Sunday with the first of the final rounds taking place at 3 p.m.

The 3 p.m. round on Sunday features the 2007 U.S. regional winners from Elvis impersonator contests. The final contest round occurs at 6 p.m. and includes the top scoring contestants from each round. This is where one lucky Elvis will be crowned "The World's Finest Elvis Impersonator"!

Contestants will compete in vocals, authenticity, appearance, and delivery. A live Vegas style stage show complete with an 8 piece show band will back up the impersonators during their performance. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Best Overall Elvis ($2,500), Best Sound-a-Like ($1,000), and Best Look-a-Like ($1,000). Show attendees also have the chance to win prizes! Contests, prizes, and giveaways for show attendees amount to over $20,000.  In addition to cash and prizes, winners of past Elvis Extravaganzas have gone on to headline their own showroom in Las Vegas including Legends In Concert.

"An event of this type is exciting for one simple reason - the fans." said, club founder, Jamie Coyne.  Coyne will serve as event emcee at the national finals on both days.  "The fans keep this event growing year after year.  Without them there would be no Elvis tributes.  Elvis fans are the greatest in the world," Coyne said.

The Contest is conjunction with The World's Largest Elvis Presley Fan Club.  The Elvis Extravaganza Fan Club was founded in 1989 and specializes in producing Elvis impersonator contests and tribute shows all over the country at fairs, festivals and casinos as well as specialty venues including The Mall of America in Minnesota.  The show has been featured by many national media including Good Morning America and MTV.  The finals at the Florida State Fair will be featured in an upcoming episode of "Magnificent Obsessions" on the HD Network.  The show has shared the stage with many of Elvis Presley's former friends and band mates including JD Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, Charlie Hodge, The Jordanaires, DJ Fontana, Joe Esposito, Kathy Westmoreland, Dick Grob and more. 

The club membership exceeds 150,000 people worldwide.  Fans can sign up to become a member during the contest at the fair.  Membership is free.  Chris Noel, who starred in the hit movie “Girl Happy” with Elvis Presley, is scheduled to make guest appearances during the two-day Elvis Extravaganza as well.

For more information on the contest and impersonator registration, visit www.elviscontest.com or call Jamie Coyne at 614-397-2566.  It’s Showtime Baby – don’t miss this one-of-a-kind Elvis Impersonator National contest!

All acts, concerts, scheduled times, exhibitors, prices, and other advertised events are subject to change and/or cancel without notice.  Fair gate admission is $10 for ages 12 and older, $5 for children ages six to 11; and free for kids five and younger.  NO RE-ENTRY is permitted without an admission ticket.  Gates open daily at 9 a.m. and parking is free during the 12 days of the Fair. 

The Florida State Fairgrounds is located just seven miles east of downtown Tampa, with easy access via I-75, I-4, U.S. Highway 301, Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and Orient Road.  For more information about the 2008 Florida State Fair, call toll-free (800) 345-FAIR or (813) 621-7821, visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/ or http://myspace.com/floridastatefair.

The 104th annual Florida State Fair will take place on February 7-18, 2008.  The Florida State Fair – always in Tampa and always in February – is organized by the Florida State Fair Authority under the leadership of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson leads the Fair Authority, which oversees the Florida State Fairgrounds and the annual Florida State Fair.

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For media inquiries for this Fair event, please contact:

Paul Wilson: info@wilsonmedia.tv
Public Relations Counsel
WILSONMedia
Cell (727) 421-3297

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