POULSBO — Before the first funnel cake is sugared. Before the first Viking mugs for the cameras. Before the first pancake is flipped, there’s a lot of work that goes into making Viking Fest happen.

The 35th annual Norwegian Constitution Day event kicked off on the Poulsbo waterfront last night, but two more full-packed days lie ahead of Little Norway.

Besides being the biggest day of the event, today is especially important this year because it falls on the May 17, or Syttende Mai. Like always, Norwegian culture will be paramount around the city as Viking Fest Corporation and Sons of Norway members strive to celebrate the holiday in style.

The Sons of Norway will have its traditional booth, offering delicacies like lefse, a tortilla-like flatbread made from potatoes that’s typically eaten with butter and cinnamon sugar. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the lodge will offer a traditional Norwegian lunch, featuring open-faced sandwiches, pea soup and many traditional baked and dessert items, including the sour-cream based Romme Grot. Sons members pull together to create enough homemade delights to feed the expected 40,000 visitors to Viking Fest.

“It’s very, very busy, this whole week and the week before, with all the baking and cooking,” commented Sons of Norway Administrator Mariann Samuelsen.

The lodge will also host Stan Boreson, the king of Scandinavian humor, with a meet and greet at 6 p.m. and a show at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the Sons, The Nordic Maid and at the door.

Another not-to-be-missed Saturday happening is the annual parade at 2 p.m., which will showcase a variety of community groups. The parade begins at Lions Park and snakes its way down Fjord Drive to Front Street all the way past Martha & Mary.

“Some people start staking out their seats for it at 8 a.m. for it, but they always have a great time,” said Caron Guilfoyle of Caron’s in downtown Poulsbo.

Saturday also features a variety of live entertainment throughout the day, culminating with a free big band dance featuring the Buz Whitley band at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday features more live entertainment at the Kvelstad Pavilion and more carnival fun. And don’t forget the annual lutefisk eating contest, a triumph of gastronomical proportions, at 2 p.m. If you’re really brave, sign up to be one of the 12 eaters by noon Sunday.

The festival closes at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The Viking Fest Lineup for Saturday and Sunday is:

Saturday — “Syttende Mai” — May 17

•7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

32nd Annual Poulsbo Noon Lions Breakfast — Sausage, eggs, OJ, milk, tea and all you can eat pancakes — at the Poulsbo Armory. Tickets $6 adults, $3 kids younger than 12. Proceeds benefit the North Kitsap High School scholarship fund.

•7:30-10:30 a.m.

26th Annual Viking Fest Road Race, sponsored by Poulsbo Parks and Recreation and Kitsap Federal Credit Union. Registration is $15.

7:30-9 a.m. — Check in at Lions Park

9 a.m. — Start of 5-mile run

9:05 a.m. — Start of 1-mile run

10:15 a.m. — Start of kids’ dash

•10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3rd Annual Viking Fest Show and Shine Car Show at Christ the King Academy. Sponsored by the Olympic Classic GM Club. Entry fee is $10 per car. Door prizes. Dash plaques for the first 100 sign ups.

7 a.m. — Registration

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — All Class Judging

noon — Award distribution and Parade Line Up for winners

2 p.m. — Parade

•10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Poulsbo Garden Club plant and gift sale at Poulsbo Library. Vendors for garden supplies and accessories and a variety of plants from garden club members.

•10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Paradise Amusements Carnival/food/craft booths at Anderson Parkway. Viking Village at waterfront.

•11 a.m.

Road race awards at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sons of Norway #44 Scandinavian Luncheon — open-faced sandwiches, pea soup, baked goods, Romme Grot. Prices vary.

•11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Liberty Bay Danceworks at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•Noon

Sons of Norway beer garden.

•1-1:30 p.m.

Kitsap Kickers line dancers at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•2 p.m.

35th annual Viking Fest Parade in historic downtown Poulsbo. Three announcers will be broadcast in the immediate area on 101.9 FM. Parade-goers are encouraged to bring their American and Scandinavian flags (available for purchase at both The Nordic Maid and YES USA!).

•4-5 p.m.

Rose City Water Skiers on Liberty Bay sponsored by Boxlight.

•5-6 p.m.

Music by The Rick Allyn Band, rock and blues, at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•7–8 p.m.

Stan Boreson “The King of Scandinavian Humor” at the Marine Rooms at the Sons of Norway. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets $8 adults and $5 children, plus a City of Poulsbo admissions tax. Tickets on sale at The Nordic Maid and Sons of Norway and at the door.

•7:30-9:30 p.m.

Buz Whitley big band dance at Kvelstad Pavilion.

Sunday May 18

•7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

32nd Annual Poulsbo Noon Lions Breakfast — Sausage, eggs, OJ, milk, tea and all you can eat pancakes — at the Poulsbo Armory. Tickets $6 adults, $3 kids younger than 12. Proceeds benefit the North Kitsap High School scholarship fund.

•10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Paradise Amusements Carnival/food/craft booths at Anderson Parkway. Viking Village at waterfront.

•10-11 a.m.

Collection of non-perishable food items for Fishline. Anyone bringing four non-perishable food items for donation during this time will be given a pass for free unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday.

•10 a.m.

Country Cloggers at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•10:30-11:30 a.m.

Rose City Water Skiers on Liberty Bay sponsored by Boxlight.

•11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Poulsbo Sons of Norway Sammendra Dancers with the Clover Blossom Band at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•Noon

“Norway — Nature’s Triumph” free video at Sons of Norway Marine Room.

•12:30-1 p.m.

The Clover Blossom Band at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•1 p.m.

“Norway — Nature’s Triumph” free video at Sons of Norway Marine Room.

•1-1:30 p.m.

The Sammara Dancers at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•1:30-2 p.m.

Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen dancers at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•2 p.m.

Annual Lutefisk Eating Contest at at Kvelstad Pavilion. Limited to the first 12 to sign up at the information booth and pay $10 entry fee before Sunday at noon. First, second and third place prizes.

•2 p.m.

“Norway — Nature’s Triumph” free video at Sons of Norway Marine Room.

•2:45-3:15 p.m.

Leikarringen dancers of Leif Erikson Lodge #1 at Kvelstad Pavilion.

•3 p.m.

“Norway — Nature’s Triumph” free video at Sons of Norway Marine Room.

•4 p.m.

Festival closes.