VIVA Las Vegas Rockabilly weekend Archives

(Note: To view my other days at VIVA click on the days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Last day of VIVA, wow it went so fast how was that possible? I guess it’s possible when you are having the time of your life. All good things must eventually come to an end, right?

Happy Easter! Sunday for me is ALWAYS shopping at the vintage vendors day, since many of the vendors put their items on sale as they don’t want to take tons of stuff home. Every year I have gotten lucky and have found some wonderful items and this year was no different. However I did find that I purchased less this year due to the Canadian dollar being so poor so that the exchange rate made everything so much more expensive. Oh well more money left over for future trips.

First up I picked up a couple of great scarfs to add to my collection.

This souvenir San Francisco scarf is my favorite of the two.

I also purchased the cutest brooch, it’s a Heinz 57 Ketchup bottle!

Then just as I was about to walk out a happy camper with what I had, I saw out of the corner of my eye a vintage 1950s Shirtwaist dress from the vendor “Love Street Vintage” who I had the pleasure of purchasing past dresses from before. It fit like a glove and it was a good price so it CLEARLY came home with me.

After shopping we thought we would see if we could get into the Sunday Pool Party which normally in the past we have not been able to do, due to it being the popular day and there are normally long line ups. But this year ended up being really easy and I think it might have had to do with the high winds making people think it was cold at the pool (which it was not). Yay for us!

My friend had secured several lounge chairs for the gang which ended up being in good prime viewing of the women’s swimsuit contest and the bands on the stage. Thank you!

There was so many GORGEOUS swimsuits to be seen, as you can see from these 3 lovely women. The red head is actually a fellow Canadian who has a super blog called “Pinup Persuasion“, who I did not realize I had taken a photo of until I just looked at now and clearly missed saying hello. Opps. She did later on enter the vintage swimsuit contest, which I’m glad she did because her suit was stunning (as did the girl in the green suit).

VLV 18 Pool Party Sunday 2015 Vintage Swimsuits

The band that played earlier in the afternoon “The Cavaleros” were really good (and Canadian) and kept the party going with their cool surf sounds. My favorite part though was when they took “Sing Sing Sing” and made it into a Rockabilly/Surf Version. The video I took even had Lindy Hoppers (from San Francisco I found out later) dancing to it. LOVE IT!

Speaking of San Fran here is my new friend from San Fran who was also a Lindy Hopper and really cool to chat with.

Then my friend Bill stole my camera to take a picture with beautiful women.

Bill JUST missed his chance with these ladies, by seconds. His loss.

I guess the pool party is not amusing for everyone….

Unfortunately I have no great photos of the swimsuit contest as the sun was pretty bright and was making it hard to see what I was taking pictures of. So you just have to take my word on the fact that the suits were stunning (as you saw above). Here is one photo though that turned out okay.

After the contest, we packed up our stuff and headed in to get ready for the Sunday evening favorite of mine and many others..the Jive Contest! BUT first what is starting to become a tradition, getting as many Canadians together for a group photo.

Here is this years, we clean up nicely don’t we?

Okay back to the Jive Contest…Once again the dance floor was filled with lots of wonderful dancers and once again my favorite did not get picked (I always chose wrong) but it was still fun to watch. Here is a clip of the 2nd round of the contest. The couple in the front of the video in the matching pink outfits ended up winning the whole thing.

And here is another tradition! Taking a photo with the Orleans Sign.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 — Me and the Sign

Now the evening is really winding down and now my body is telling me that it’s soon time to call it quits. We did however want to see the Doo Wop All Stars Show. This years show included: Herb Cox-The Cleftones; Eugene Pitt-The Jive Five and Bobby Lewis (“Tossin & Turning”) It was really great and super stylish as Doo Wop bands tend to be.

One again the floor was packed with dancers. Here is a little video I took during one of the sets featuring Bobby Lewis.

After the show my husband and I had to say our goodbyes as we had an early flight 🙁

And then it was done…

That was VIVA 18 2015. I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventures as much as I enjoyed being in those adventures. Will I maybe see you next year?

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂

Read about: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday

Saturday….CAR SHOW DAY! Love Saturday because a big part of Viva for me, is the cars. I love classic cars and I love dreaming about owning my 56 Bel Air one day but until then I will take just drooling over the cars instead.

Vintage Car Viva las vegas rockabilly weekend car show 18 2015

It was a really great day, weather wise so my hubby and I ate and then hit up the shopping at the car show first. This was a good call going a bit early because it was not busy yet and we could do our shopping with ease without having to fight the crowds.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 Car Show Shopping for vintage style clothing.

I was like a kid in a candy store as I have not done any shopping up to this point yet and was really itching to spend money. One of my favorite pieces that I found but did not buy due to being way to expensive, was an “Ethel of Beverly Hills” Cardigan. I own one already and have a serious love and need to own more (see blog post). This one was beautiful.

Ethel of Beverly HIlls Vintage 1950s Cardigan

I did buy the following: 2 brooches. The poodle was vintage and the seahorse was new. I also added to my hair flowers collection with a cool fruit clip (from Viva Dulce Marina). Lastly my husband found the sweetest shirt with flamingos on it. We can now be that couple that matches when I wear my tiki flamingo dress to the next Toronto Vintage Society Tiki party.

Viva Rockabilly Weekender Shopping finds. Vintage brooches, tiki shirts and tropical hair flowers.

Shopping done, now it’s time for a wedding..from Elvis.

Vintage Car Viva las vegas rockabilly weekend car show 18 2015 featuring Elvis — Elvis Wedding

Now for the cars, all the glorious vintage cars. Here is a collection of some of the cars we saw.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 2015 Car Show-Vintage Cars on display.

While we were wandering around the car show I saw the coolest outfit of all time. This wonderful woman was dressed as Rockford Peach from the movie “A League of their Own“. I had to get a picture as this is one of my all-time favorite movies.

A league of their Own-Rockford Peach outfit seen at the car show at Viva Rockabilly Weekender

After the car show we checked out one of the headliner bands, 50s and 60s teen idol DION.

He was really good and sounded just amazing. Here is a video I took from his show. See for yourself.

Saturday Night-The Night when everyone breaks out their best outfits for the evening. I’m wearing my vintage Lurex dress that I got from a friend and I have to say that I felt just amazing in it! It was my fav dress of the whole entire weekend.

Vintage Lurex Dress as seen at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender

See everyone brings their A Game on Saturday night as seen here by my stylish friends.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage style / pinup style — Stylish Friends

I also finally ran into an Instagram follower as well, Wendi the Bakelite Bloodhound thanks to her eagle eyes. She was really nice and it was cool to finally chat in person. We also got a picture taken which my friend Bill the Photo bomber ruined or made better depending on how you look at it. lol!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage lurex dresses

Saturday Nights bands were big ones..once again. First Up “The Stars Rockabilly Show” featuring: Joe Clay, Huelyn Duvall, Ray Campi and Big Sandy. Great show.

The Stars of Rockabilly Show Viva Rockabilly Weekend 2015 — The Stars of Rockabilly Show VL 18 2015

Marti Brom was up next and ever since I saw her a couple of years ago doing a Janis Martin Tribute I have been a big fan. Marti channels the sound of Patsy Cline and was really really good and I danced so much during her set and was pretty bummed when it was done.

Marti Brom Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 18 2015 — Marti Brom

And last but not least the final band of the night at 2am was Levi Dexter & the Rockats. I had been eagerly awaiting Levi all weekend and was thrilled that I was still awake to catch their act.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18 2015 Vintage Rockabilly Style. — It’s 2am and we are still awake!

Levi & the Rockats are considered early groundbreaking pioneers of neo-rockabilly originally formed in the UK in the 70s, banging back to USA, National TV appearances, and paving the way for all the other ‘Kat’ Bands (source). I have been a fan for a very long time and was just enthralled by the showmanship and music radiating off the stage. It was a great way to end the evening, even the dance floor was still packed.