“POULSBO – Little Norway will seem a lot bigger next weekend as thousands of people from around the nation and beyond make their way here to partake in the fun and history that have become hallmarks of Poulsbo’s annual Viking Fest. The festival has become the biggest event in the city and with everything from a carnival, dancing, singing, live music, great breakfasts and food to a car show, plant sale, Scandinavian humor, water skiers and a lutefisk eating contest it’s not difficult to see why. Viking Fest starts Friday, May 18 at Kvelstad Pavilion when the opening ceremonies officially get the event underway. The 4 p.m. ceremony will be accompanied by the Viking Village on the waterfront, carnival on Anderson Parkway and free admission to the Poulsbo Marine Science Center. At 4:30 p.m. the Sons of Norway Leikarring Dancers, ages kindergarten to fourth grade, will take to the planks at Kvelstad Pavilion to traditional Scandinavian tunes. The group will be setting the stage for the fifth through twelfth grade Leikarring Dancers who will be getting into the groove at 5:15 p.m. No Clue will show that their name is no indication of their talents as they play music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s at the pavilion from 7:30-9:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. big booms, bright lights and plenty of oohs and ahhs can be expected as fireworks shoot for the sky over Liberty Bay. The 30th annual Poulsbo Noon Lions pancake feed will flip into the Armory from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, serving up all you can eat eggs, sausage, cakes, juice and coffee. Money raised will benefit the North Kitsap High School Scholarship Fund. After folks fill their tanks at the Saturday, May 19 breakfast they can get some exercise during the 23rd Annual Viking Road Run. Check-in for the fun run is from 7:30-9 a.m. at Lions Park. At 9:00 a.m. the first gun goes off and will send hundreds of runners on their way on the five-mile contest. Immediately following, at 9:05 a.m. runners will take their marks for the one-mile race and at 10:15 a.m. kids ages four to eight can show their stuff during youth sprints of Front Street. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. bargain hunters can visit the flea market at St. Olaf’s Catholic Church at 8943 Caldart Avenue, grabbing lunch or bake sale items along the way. Also starting at 9 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. two first time events will be featured when the Show N’ Shine Cruz Car Show revs into the Christ Memorial parking lot and the Poulsbo Garden Club plant sale takes root at the Valborg Oyen Library. At 10 a.m. the Kitsap Kickers will dance their way into Kvelstad Pavilion and on Saturday and Sunday the carnival, Viking Village, and craft booths open downtown. Road race awards will be announced at 11 a.m. at the pavilion and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. folks can visit the Marine Science Center to gawk at undersea wildlife or have their faces painted for free. The 11th hour also marks the opening of the Sons of Norway luncheon, which closes at the 4th hour – that’s 4 p.m. Liberty Bay Danceworks swings into Kvelstad Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed immediately by the Country Cloggers. The 33rd Annual Viking Fest Parade will take to Front Street at 2 p.m. and the Rose City Water Skiers take to the surf from 5-6 p.m. The skiers also hit the waves on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. From 5-6 p.m. Saturday, the Cascade Navy Band plays their melodious tunes at the pavilion followed by the Buzz Whitely Big Band from 8-10 p.m. Also, from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. the King of Scandinavia, will be on hand at the Sons of Norway. Well, actually Stan Boreson is the King of Scandinavian Humor. Tickets are on sale at the Trolls Den and the Nordic Maid. After the breakfast and carnival get underway Sunday, May 20 folks can check out the the pavilion for a day’s load of fun. At 10 a.m. the Leikarringen Dancers of Leif Erickson Lodge hit the wood, followed by the Sons of Norway Sammendra Dancers and the Clover Blossom Band from 12-1 p.m. From 1-1:30 p.m. Stephanie Tangonan will perform her beautiful songs from 1:30-2 p.m. the Sammara Dancers take the stage. Lutefisk lovers can enjoy the sweet smell of lye-soaked cod and even chow down some of the Norwegian delicacy during the annual Lutefisk Eating Contest. Will Eric Perkins repeat as the champ? Find out at 2 p.m. at Kvelstad Pavilion. Once the buckets are cleared from the stage, visitors can listen to the down home tunes of the Kitsap Banjo Club from 3-4 p.m. when Viking Fest will be closing down in preparation for another fun-filled event in 2002. “