The Annual Windy City ETA Competition

06/02/2024

"Surrender" featuring Jesse Aron and the Change of Habit Tribute Band.

Jesse showcasing his incredible vocal range. We thank him for returning as a past champion guest.

05/02/2024

That's a wrap on our 12th year! Thank you all...to our fans, guests, performers, and staff. Also Ron and his team at Onesti Entertainment. Thank you to the Change of Habit Band, Jesse Aron, Ronny Craig, the Des Plaines Theatre.

The fans really came out and filled this place with electricity and energy that our contestants and band could feed off of. From start to finish. This was an amazing crowd!

Congratulations to our 2024 champion, Ted Torres, and all of our contestants who showed why they love and pay tribute to the greatest entertainer of all time: Elvis Aaron Presley.

04/02/2024

Congratulations to our 2024 King of the Windy City - Ted Torres!

2nd place - Brooke Wright
3rd place - Hugo Colin
Peoples Choice - Hugo Colin

What a fantastic performance from our finalists and contestants!

04/02/2024

Last year's winner, World Champion Tribute Artist Jesse Aron, performing today at The Annual Windy City ETA Competition.

04/02/2024

The Finals 2024

04/02/2024

Our 2024 lineup has put on a phenomenal show! Onto the finals we go.

04/02/2024

A big thank you for a very fun and successful kickoff party at the Des Plaines Speakeasy! Thank you to all our participants, singers, dancers and fans. See you this afternoon for the competition in the theater!

03/02/2024

We kick off The Annual Windy City ETA Competition tonight at 7pm in the Speakeasy Lounge of Des Plaines Theatre.

Joe Tirrito opens with an Elvis tribute concert, followed by karaoke. No tickets necessary! Open seating.

Sunday, doors open at 12pm. 1pm showtime on the main stage.

27/01/2024

One week away!

Tickets are still available online for Sunday's show at desplainestheatre.com. You will also be able to get them at the theater box office the day of.

Saturday's kickoff starts at 7pm in the Des Plaines Speakeasy Lounge above the theater. Joe Tirrito will perform his tribute to Elvis, followed by karaoke! (No tickets required). Doors open at 6pm. Open seating.

Sunday doors open at 12pm, show at 1pm. Contestants must be on site for 11am competition meeting.

See you soon!

25/01/2024

Here's a look back at our previous kings of the Windy City from 2012 to 2023. We've been honored to have so many talented tribute artists on our stage over the years.

2012 - Cliff Wright
2013 - Anthony Shore
2014 - David Lee
2015 - Victor Trevino
2016 - Drake Milligan
2017 - Doug Church
2018 - Radney Pennington
2019 - Tim E. Hendry
2020 - Tim E. Hendry
2022 - Jimmy Holmes
2023 - Jesse Aron
2024 - ?????

Find out who's next on February 4th at Des Plaines Theatre!

21/01/2024

We would like to congratulate World Champion Tribute Artist Jesse Aron on his win today at the 2024 Smoky Mountain Elvis Festival.

Jesse was our 2023 champion and will be on stage at The Annual Windy City ETA Competition in 2 weeks as our special guest performer on February 4th.

20/01/2024

If you love the King of Rock and Roll, then gather your fellow Elvis fans and tribute artists and head to Des Plaines Theatre for the Windy City Elvis Tribute Artist weekend!

🎟 Get tickets at 👉 https://ow.ly/3R6T50QpJhP

17/01/2024

The King of the Windy City Championship Belt! Awarded to our winner: live on stage at the Des Plaines Theatre, Sunday February 4th!

15/01/2024

We are three weeks away from The Annual Windy City ETA Competition! February 3-4 at the Des Plaines Theatre. Featuring Joe Tirrito, Jesse Aron, the Change of Habit Tribute Band, and master of ceremonies Ronny Craig. Over 15 Elvis tribute contestants competing for the 2024 King of the Windy City title and championship belt!

These are your 2024 registered contestants (list is subject to change between now and event). REGISTRATION CLOSES 1/15. Only a couple of spots left if you are an Elvis tribute artist who would like to compete. $3500 in prizes, plus the championship belt and a People's Choice Award for the contestant with the most fan votes.

SATURDAY 2/3 we kick off in the theater's speakeasy lounge. Joe Tirrito performs his Elvis tribute show, followed by the karaoke afterparty. 7pm. No tickets necessary.

SUNDAY 2/4 is the competition on the main stage of the theatre. Doors open at 12pm. Show starts at 1pm. Contest, plus a guest appearance by 2023 Windy City Champion Jesse Aron.

14/01/2024

We are less than a month away! Any Elvis tribute artists looking to enter, time is running out! Registration will be closing soon! Compete for the King of the Windy City Championship Belt and $3500 in prizes!

Saturday night in the Speakeasy with the Joe Tirrito show and a karaoke afterparty!

Sunday afternoon on the main stage with the competition and special guest Jesse Aron! Featuring the Change of Habit Band.

08/01/2024

Happy Birthday, Elvis Presley!

The original. Still the king. 🥳 Would be 89 today. Thanks to Elvis for bringing so many of us together over the years.

06/01/2024

Get your tickets at www.desplainestheatre.com.

We are less than a month away! Any Elvis tribute artists looking to enter, time is running out! Registration will be closing soon! Compete for the King of the Windy City Championship Belt and $3500 in prizes!

Saturday night in the Speakeasy with the Joe Tirrito show and a karaoke afterparty!

Sunday afternoon on the main stage with the competition and special guest Jesse Aron! Featuring the Change of Habit Band.

28/12/2023

Remember to also follow us on our Instagram page!

https://www.instagram.com/windycityelvisfest/

09/12/2023

10/06/2023

Congratulations to World Champion Tribute Artist Jesse Aron of Green Bay!

Jesse won our competition earlier this year, becoming the 2023 King of the Windy City. This weekend, he also won the Tupelo festival to qualify for the Ultimate competition in Memphis this August.

28/03/2023

The original king of the Windy City! Elvis debuted his gold suit right here in Chicago.

Stay gold, Chicago 💛 66 years ago today, Elvis debuted his iconic gold suit in the Windy City!

20/02/2023

Our 2023 King of the Windy City Champion. Congratulations to Wisconsin's Jesse Aron, originally from Chicago. Thank you to all our wonderful contestants for a fun night, and to our fans and the Arcada/Onesti team! TCB! See you in 2024.

20/02/2023

Congratulations to our 2023 finalists!

Hugo Colin (3rd/Peoples Choice), Matt King, Jonathan Lyons, Jesse Aron (1st), Brooke Wright (2nd).