POULSBO — Poulsbo First Lutheran Church’s lutefisk dinner returns on Oct. 21 following its only hiatus in 103 years, bringing back a cultural event that drew people from all over the Northwest.

Volunteers will begin serving at 11:40 a.m.; seating times will be in 20-minute intervals beginning at 11:40 a.m. until 3:40 p.m. Visitors will be treated to a traditional meal of meatballs, potatoes, lefse, salad, krumkake, sherbet and, of course, lutefisk. Lefse and pickled herring will also be for sale.

Forget the Garrison Keillor jokes; this is an important cultural event that has taken place in Poulsbo every year since since 1913 with only one exception. Because of a lack of cooks who possess the knowledge (or willingness) to prepare the labor-intensive meal, last year was the first time Poulsbo went without its lutefisk dinner in more than a century.

Lutefisk is dried whitefish, often cod, that has been cured with lye; historically, this was done so the fish could be stored and/or shipped. To prepare it for cooking, the cured fish must be soaked in water for several days, with the water being changed daily. It can then be cooked or parboiled.

First Lutheran Church is located at 18920 4th Ave. NE in Poulsbo. Tickets are $25 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12.

— Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. Contact him at ntwietmeyer@soundpublish ing.com.