POULSBO — The streets of downtown Poulsbo overflowed with festivities during the 40th annual Viking Fest this weekend. Boats filled the bay, flip-flops pounded the pavement, Vikings sounded their lurs and the colorful Paradise Amusements carnival set up camp, all illuminated by three days of unadulterated sunshine.

Viking Fest president Ron Krell said this year’s event was one of the biggest in the organization’s history. Compared to last year’s drizzly overhead, this weekend’s nearly 90 degree weather was the perfect finishing touch for a smooth-running, successful celebration.

Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade said this year may have been Viking Fest’s “best ever.”

“I don’t think it could have been better,” she said. “It was a milestone and a banner year.”

The Society for Creative Anachronism’s Viking Village set up camp in Waterfront Park. The village has been part of Viking Fest since 1991. Sven, a Viking also known as Redbeard — who by day is a Boeing worker called Dave — said the group represents a “non-Hollywood” version of what it meant to live the Viking life. Educating visitors and providing them enjoyment is what their set-up is all about.

“What we’re trying to do is to share with people the closeness, the excitement of history,” he said. The village was brimming with men and women in old time Scandinavian wear, as well as tents, tools, jewelry and “more weapons than you can shake a spear at.” Also on display was a large dragon head, made by Sven as a bow piece for a longboat.

But SCA members weren’t the only Vikings around, as plenty donned horned hats and fur garb. Even a few “uff da” buttons made an appearance amongst the crowd.

Visitors lined the streets early Saturday in anticipation of the biggest parade in Viking Fest’s existence. Emceed by KMPS host Amy Lynn – who checked in on the crowd: “Are you guys able to take this head OK?” — the parade began with the roars of motorcycles and ushered in a host of whistles, beeps, drums and hollers with its nearly 100 entrants.

North Kitsap High teacher John Wall served as the grand marshal, and Poulsbo centurion Pauline Rindal also made an appearance in a red 1967 GTO. School marching bands and dance teams, the Central Market shopping cart drill team and the Breidablik BRATS proved crowd favorites as onlookers basked in the warm weather along Front Street.

Krell said the city proved a huge ally in preparation for the event. From sprucing up sidewalks to removing curb stops for equipment, “we had excellent support from the city this year,” he said.

The weekend also served as a trial relocation of the carnival from Anderson Parkway to the King Olaf parking lot. Reviews were mixed regarding the move. Viking Fest Executive Vice President Kathi Foresee said some were in favor, but others complained the rides and food booths weren’t in the same area. Parents reported the double locale was less conducive to a family outing. Kids couldn’t be left to ride carnival attractions while parents wandered the booths because of the separation between the two, some felt. But many food vendors, who Foresee said like having the carnival as a draw, still reported success, despite the carnival’s venue change. Another benefit noted was a quieter environment in downtown’s core.

Carnival goers didn’t seem to mind the brief journey between the booths and rides.

“I like it better,” said Poulsbo mom Robyn Graham, who’s 8-year-old twins took a turn on the Tilt-A-Whirl. She added the walk up to King Olaf wasn’t any inconvenience for her. And her kids?

“I think they’re happy wherever there’s rides,” she said with a laugh.

Krista Webb of Poulsbo, who brought her daughter and goddaughter to the event, said she thought the relocation worked just fine. This was her third time attending Viking Fest.

“It makes sense to have much more parking available,” she said. And it “causes people to walk through town more.”

But feedback wasn’t all positive. Heavenly Choices owners Eileen Angilletta and Susan Johnson said the property their store sits on became a crossroads for visitors going to or coming from the carnival. Situated next to the Blue Sky Printing building across Front Street from the Sons of Norway lodge, the shop was smack in the middle of heavy pedestrian traffic. And while an increased number of those walkers visited their store — upping their need for customer service clerks — there wasn’t a spike in spending. On top of that, Angilletta said the noise from the carnival was a disrupting one, even causing an hypnotherapist in the building to cancel appointments for the day. Other troubles included the lack of a protective fence between their building and the carnival, which they said they’d been assured would be set up.

“It was not fun,” Angilletta said, adding she’d be “very much against” the carnival’s King Olaf situation in the future. And when it comes to the pedestrians crossing between Anderson Parkway and King Olaf — many of whom didn’t adhere to the crosswalks — she said “we’re lucky that nobody really got hurt.”

Teens without minding parents were often the jaywalking culprits, she said.

While Front Street vehicular traffic was backed up at times, and while many pedestrians crossed outside of designated areas, Poulsbo Police Chief Dennis Swiney said no major incidents occurred. He said the department was out in full force for the weekend, and aside from the few heat exhaustion situations, officers didn’t report any big problems. As of Monday morning, no citizens had called in difficulties or complaints.

“It was really, in a good sense, an uneventful event from the police department’s perspective,” he said.

Poulsbo Fire Public Information Officer Jody Matson said things went smoothly on the fire department’s end as well. There were multiple calls for heat-related issues — not heat stroke, which is life-threatening, but instead basic symptoms such as nausea and headaches, she said. But aside from those under-hydrated and overheated, the only other assistance needed was for a few road runners with blisters on their heels.

Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association President Tammy Mattson said she’s given downtown business owners a survey to gain feedback on the weekend. Many HDPA members called for the relocation of the Viking Fest carnival, as well as a more homegrown feel in the content of the booths. The Viking Fest board attempted to address both issues.

“So far what I’m hearing has been a good response,” Mattson said. Those she’s talked with felt they were able to operate smoothly, and a big difference was seen in customers’ overall moods. Many of them, not having had as much parking trouble as in years before, were, to put it simply, happier.

“A lot of our guests, our local guests, really enjoyed themselves,” she said. “The HDPA most certainly appreciates all of the efforts of the Viking Fest Corporation.”

To her, the event’s Iron Chef competition and area booth representatives went a long way in making the weekend a community-building one.

“It was back to the quality activities that a small town enjoys,” she said. “It was not only unifying our community with the downtown core, but it was also unifying all of Poulsbo.”

Martha & Mary Fund Director Rob Gelder said there was a fair amount of anxiety from both staff and residents before the event took place, but the results weren’t as bad as many expected. The nursing home and rehabilitation facility was directly adjacent to the carnival setup.

Gelder said a few residents requested earplugs, but others took to the outdoors and joined in the fun.

Parking and garbage weren’t problems, although some cut-through foot traffic was evidenced on the property. Overall, Gelder said it was a “mixed bag.”

“It wasn’t as bad as we thought it could have been,” he said. And when it comes to discussions for next year and whether or not the carnival will stay in the location, “we’re open and definitely want to be part of that dialogue.”