It’s just about the time of year in Poulsbo when you can hear the rumbling of Vikings approaching while the smell of lutefisk mixed with cotton candy and funnel cakes fills the air — it’s time for Viking Fest.
Little Norway honors its heritage each year with a three-day festival marking Norwegian Constitution Day or Syttende Mai.
All over Norway, both kids and adults will parade around with an abundance of flags to mark the occasion. In Poulsbo, the scene shouldn’t differ much.
This year’s 39th annual Viking Fest — starting at 4 p.m. May 18 — will again bring together music, dance, food and fireworks with carnival and Norse fare and festivities. And as an added bonus for 2007, the Poulsbo Marine Science Center will be hosting open houses Friday and Saturday, offering a view into its progress toward re-opening.
As is tradition, the Poulsbo Noon Lions will be opening Viking Fest weekend, bright and early at 7 a.m. May 19 and 20, with its 35th annual Pancake Breakfast at the Poulsbo Armory.
Also inline with tradition, the carnival, food and craft booths will be back at Anderson Parkway while Viking Village will set up shop at Waterfront Park and Kvelstad Pavilion will host music and dancing until Viking Fest closes at 4 p.m. May 20.
Other notable events: the parade will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, the lutefisk eating contest will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, while the Sons of Norway will be presenting three free Norwegian videos at the lodge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Viking Fest
Friday, May 18
4 p.m.
• Opening Ceremony at Kvelstad Pavilion, in Liberty Bay Park
4:30 p.m.
• Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen Dancers (grades K-4)
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
5:15 p.m.
• Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen Dancers (grades 5-12)
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
6 p.m.
• Jazz Dance by Melissa Dance Studio
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
• Music from local band — Swing Fever
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
10 p.m.
• “Syttende Mai” — May 17 — fireworks celebration
Saturday May 19th
7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• 35th Annual Poulsbo Noon Lions Breakfast
“All-you-can-eat” pancakes at the Poulsbo Armory
(Funds benefit the NKHS scholarship fund)
7:30 to 11 a.m.
• Viking Fest Road Race at Lions Park
– 9 a.m. start of 5-mile
– 9:05 a.m. start of 1-mile
– 10:15 a.m. start of kids’ dash
– 11 a.m. Road Race Awards
10 a.m.
• Kitsap Kickers line dancing
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
10:30 a.m.
• Kitsap County Cloggers
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sons of Norway Scandinavian Luncheon
Open-faced sandwiches at the SON Lodge
11:30 a.m.
• Liberty Bay Danceworks performance
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
1 p.m.
• Sons of Norway’s Monday Night Folk Dancers
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
2 p.m.
• 39th annual Parade through downtown Poulsbo
4 p.m.
• Leikarringen Dancers of Leif Erickson Lodge No. 1
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
4:30 p.m.
• Boot Scootin’ Grannies
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
5:15-7:15 p.m.
• Olympic Jazz Band directed by Rick White
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
7:30-9:30 p.m.
• Music by local cover band Cold Note
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
Sunday May 20th
7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Poulsbo Noon Lions Breakfast
At the Poulsbo Armory
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sons of Norway video presentations, free at the Sons Lodge:
(45 minutes each, beginning on the hour)
– “Heather Alps”
– “Kysttarisme” – coastal touring in Norway
– “Saltstraumen” – World’s strongest tidal current, Maelstrom
10:30 a.m.
• Ku-Umba Breidablik Marima Group
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
11:30 a.m.
• Bainbridge Ballet
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.; 1:30-2:15 p.m. and 3-3:45 p.m.
• Let’s Pretend Circus
At Liberty Bay Park
12 p.m.
• Music by local bluegrass cover band Me and the Boys
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
2 p.m.
• Annual Lutefisk Eating Contest at the Kvelstad Pavilion
(Limited to first 12 to sign up — Ages 18 and up, $10 entry)
3:15 p.m.
• Sumara Dancers
At the Kvelstad Pavilion
4 p.m.
• Festival Close
