POULSBO — The clock is ticking as the 38th annual Viking Fest inches closer to its opening ceremonies at 4 p.m. Friday at Kvelstad Pavilion.

The countdown officially kicked off Saturday during at live remote at Poulsbo RV with Seattle country radio station 94.1 FM KMPS and DJ Stephanie Rose, who was a judge at the Miss Viking Fest pageant.

“I thought it was pretty good for the first year, and I’ve gotten lots of positive comments,” Viking Fest executive secretary Kathi Foresee said Monday morning.

In addition to one of the first official public appearances by the Miss Viking Fest royal court, a drawing was held for a three-day RV rental and Viking Fest T-shirts and buttons were available at the event.

The next noticeable sign that the three-day festival is on its way will be the closure of Anderson Parkway at 3 p.m. Thursday as the carnival and Viking Village will begin setting up.

“We’re clearing the parking lot and after 3 p.m. we’ll start towing,” Foresee said.

The carnival will occupy most of the parking lot, while the Viking Village led by the Glam Folk will take residence in Waterfront Park between the Sons of Norway lodge and the Port of Poulsbo marina.

“Everything’s pretty much set in stone and we’re ready,” she said.

With more than 900 presale wristbands available at Viking Bank on State Route 305, they are still available for sale.

The wristbands are $15 each and are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations will be taken and payment is by cash or check only.

The opening ceremonies, carnival and Viking Village will mark the beginning of the event Friday afternoon, but the real fun begins Saturday morning.

Runners of all ages and abilities will congregate at Lions Park for the Viking Fest road race and the Poulsbo Noon Lions will be cooking up their usual pancake breakfast at the Poulsbo Armory on Jensen Way.

The parade will meander through downtown at 2 p.m. as thousands of onlookers will line Front Street to catch a glimpse of not only Miss Viking Fest 2006 Jasmine Campbell, but Vikings as well.

One missing element to this year’s parade will be the mayor’s street-sweeping brigade as Mayor Kathryn Quade will be walking behind the Marine Science Center truck, which is being driven by Bight of Poulsbo founder Bill Austin, to raise awareness and support for the city’s efforts to bring the now-closed center back to life.

Even though Little Norway is enjoying a heavy dose of sunshine this week, rain is in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday with most forecasters calling on a 60 percent chance of the wet stuff Saturday and a 30 percent chance Sunday.

“I don’t get too excited about the weather this early, but I hope it’s nice,” Foresee said.

For more details on all of the Viking Fest events and schedules, see today’s What’s Up section in the Herald.