Did you know that Elvis Presley used to live in Germany? I only found out earlier this year! While he did not live in our host city, Wiesbaden, Elvis did reside nearby. In the quaint city of Bad Nauheim, the King of Rock and Roll placed his roots for two years (1958-1960).
Elvis was loved by the locals of Bad Nauheim. To honor Presley after his untimely death, the city began hosting a yearly festival. Taking place every Summer on the weekend of the king’s passing, the European Elvis Festival quickly became a haven for fans.
I was not sure what to expect from this festival and decided to go in with minimal expectations. After attending this event, I can vouch that everyone needs to experience the European Elvis Festival at least once in their life.
Festival Dates
Elvis Presley passed away on August 16th, 1977. For this reason, the festival is always held on the weekend closest to the King’s passing. You can find exact dates for each year by clicking here.
Parking
Finding parking in Europe can be pretty overwhelming. Luckily, I happened upon the perfect parking lot by accident. It only costs 3,50 Euro per day and there is no shortage of parking spots (even with the event taking place). Click here for directions to the parking lot I used.
Tip: Bring coins to pay for parking.
This parking lot is just a 15 minute walk from the festival center. I recommend strolling along the paths beside Grosser Teich in Bad Nauheim’s Kurpark as the area is stunning. There are spots to feed the geese, relax by the water and it is shaded by large trees. Jasper loved sniffing around the park and was able to take a quick potty break before we reached the festival center.
If you have a larger vehicle, I would recommend parking in another lot. The parking lot I used had pretty narrow spaces and backing out would be a bit cramped in a long vehicle. Here are two parking garages that are close to the festival and better suited for large vehicles: Parkhaus Kurparkplaza or Parking deck on Sprudelhof
Elvis Presley Memorial
The first stop you want to make in Bad Nauheim is the Elvis Presley Memorial. This is located in the heart of the festival and will help you get your bearings. Click here for directions to the memorial.
Fun Fact: Look at the building behind the memorial. This is Hotel Villa Grunewald, formerly known as Hotel Grunewald. Elvis actually lived in this hotel for a period of time, but due to the ruckus he made (while practicing music), he was eventually kicked out. Guess what else? You can rent a room at the hotel and watch the festival from above!
Vintage Attire
One of my favorite parts of the festival was that nearly everyone was dressed up. Men wore bedazzled, sparkling suits and women sported vintage dresses. If you are debating on dressing up, I say go for it!
Jasper and I, of course, had to join in on the fun. I did not have a vintage dress, but I found something in my closet that worked with the theme. My heart shaped glasses were a huge hit with the locals! Jasper, however, truly stole the show in his leather jacket bandana.
Don’t have an outfit? There are a few vendors in town selling dresses and Elvis merchandise.
Elvis Impersonators
Once you reach the city center, there will be a lot of Elvis lookalikes. Some of the individuals are just dressed up for the event, but others are performers! Always be sure to ask before you take a picture or video of someone (otherwise you may find yourself being yelled at in German).
Classic Cars
I highly recommend visiting on the weekend when the classic car show is taking place. I was only expecting to see maybe five cars at this event, but there was an entire street packed with gorgeous, colorful cars. It was amazing!
If you want to know more about the vehicle you are looking at, you can usually find the owner hanging around the back of the car. If they like your outfit, they may even ask you to pose for a picture with their car!
Can’t find the car’s owner? Don’t fret! Look for Elvis instead.
Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for the Stutz Blackhawk as it is one of the cars Elvis used to drive.
U.S. Military Welcome
Did you know that Elvis was in the U.S. military? As a nod to his military service, you will see quite a few U.S. Military vehicles at the event. The owners of these vehicles also try their best to dress the part by wearing vintage U.S. Military uniforms.
It was also really cool to see that many cars displayed American flags. The best part, however, was talking to the locals about life in America. Everyone was curious about American diners, Route 66 and anything classic Americana.
Classic Car Parade
One of the big attractions at the European Elvis Festival is the car parade! This is where all the classic cars drive around town for guests to see. Many of the cars have traded out their traditional car horns for something a bit more fun. There were sirens, movie quotes, barking dogs and just a ton of funny sounds.
Tip: If you plan to bring your dog, be sure they can handle very loud noises. There are sirens, motorcycles, revving engines, loud music, crowds etc.
Fantastic Food
What fun would a festival be without food? If you purchase a ticket to enter the concert area, both restaurants have phenomenal food and drinks. I like to grab food to go at events as it allows me to keep exploring. You can find food trucks and stands all around town during the event. Most of the vendors offer traditional German food, such as currywurst and bratwurst.
It was very hot outside when I attended the festival. For this reason, Jasper and I stuck with gelato from the Eis truck. American milkshakes were also available and looked amazing.
Recommendation: Purchase an Elvis themed snack! One of his favorite meals was a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich.
Live Music
Around town there are a few different areas with live music. To enter most of these concert areas, you must purchase an entrance ticket. I purchased a ticket this year and it was definitely worth it to have a place to cool off indoors, grab a drink and use a free restroom.
If you don’t want to buy a ticket, you can bring a picnic blanket and enjoy the grassy field near the festival. Jasper and I laid on the grass listening to the artists while we ate our ice cream. Additionally, you can watch as people dance and sing along with the various street performers in town.
Elvis Everywhere
Take a peek inside of the storefronts as you are walking around town. You will notice that many stores have Elvis statues and pictures on display. Some restaurants even have Elvis themed menus!
Elvis Statue
Bad Nauheim’s newest attraction is a bronze Elvis statue on the city’s USA bridge. It is modeled after a picture of Elvis on this exact same bridge! The statue was installed and unveiled on the first day of the 2021 European Elvis festival and is well worth a visit. Click here for directions to the statue.
Tip: There may be a line when you arrive (as the installation is new), but don’t be put off. We waited in line and it went very fast.
Car Boats
Need a break from the festival? I recommend walking back towards Grosser Teich in Bad Nauheim’s Kurpark. Beside the pond, you will find a place called Bootshaus am Kurteich. For 10 Euros, they will rent your family a pedal boat for 30 minutes. The car-shaped pedal boats were my personal favorite (given the festival’s car show), but there are other options available as well.
If you are hungry, there is a popular restaurant next to the boat rental called Teichhaus Bad Nauheim.
Tip: There is a public restroom located by the boat rental.
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