POULSBO — The 35th Annual Viking Fest kicks off in two days, promising the same excitement the three-day celebration has come to be known for.

Friday festivities run from 4-10 p.m. at the waterfront. Opening ceremonies at 4 p.m. will include appearances by Miss Poulsbo Danielle Deitch, Miss Viking Fest Jessica Styron, the Naval Sea Cadets Color Guard and Mayor Donna Jean Bruce.

Besides carnival rides, food booths and free entertainment at Kvelstad Pavilion, Friday also includes a unique opportunity to see the Sons of Norway Vikings up close and personal. The group will be present for a meet and greet in the pavilion beginning at 6:15 p.m. Attendees can get their pictures taken with the Vikings.

The biggest day of the weekend is most certainly Saturday, but this year it’s even more special because it falls on the actual Syttenda Mai, or Norwegian Independence Day. The day starts early, with the Lions Pancake Breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. at the Poulsbo Armory and registration for the Viking Road Race at Lions Park at 7:30 a.m. Whether it’s stuffing your belly with pancakes, sausage, eggs and orange juice, or taking a 1- or 5-mile run, morning activities will wake anyone up for the big day to come.

Other Saturday highlights include: the 3rd Annual Viking Fest Show and Shine Car Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ the King Academy; the Poulsbo Garden Club plant and gift sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Poulsbo Library; and the 35th annual Viking Fest Parade beginning at 2 p.m. in historic downtown Poulsbo. The evening concludes with a show by Stan Boreson, the King of Scandinavian Humor, at 7 p.m. at the Sons of Norway and an outdoor big band dance featuring the sounds of the Buz Whitley Band 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Kvelstad Pavilion.

Sunday starts bright and early again with the Lions breakfast. But perhaps the most awaited event of the day is the annual lutefisk eating contest, where brave souls will pit their stomachs and their gag reflexes against one another to scarf down the Norwegian codfish delicacy by the pound. The festival closes at 4 p.m. that day.

The full Viking

Fest lineup is:

Friday May 16

•4 p.m.

Opening ceremony at Kvelstad pavilion. Kitsap Battalion Naval Sea Cadets Color Guard. Norwegian National Anthem by the North Kitsap High School Marching Band. American National Anthem by 2002 Miss Viking Fest Princess Victoria Jones. Guest speaker Mayor Donna Jean Bruce. Special song by Aryle Pastore, 9, of Poulsbo. Introduction of Miss Viking Fest and Miss Poulsbo.

•4-10 p.m.

Paradise Amusements Carnival. To show appreciation to the men and women who serve the United States in the Armed Forces, Viking Fest Corporation and Paradise Amusements will be offering active duty and retired military $3 discount on a family pack of ride tickets. Present a valid military ID to reserve the discount. Tickets purchased are good for any ride Friday. Food/craft booths at Anderson Parkway. Viking Village opens at waterfront. Entertainment at Kvelstad Pavilion sponsored by Sprint.

•4:30 p.m.

Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen Dancers (kindergarten to fourth grade) directed by Robin Breakey at Kvelstad pavilion.

•5 p.m.

Sons of Norway beer garden

•5:15 p.m.

Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen Dancers (Fifth to twelfth grade) directed by Suzanne Jefferis at Kvelstad pavilion.

•6:15 p.m.

Meet and greet the Poulsbo Sons of Norway Lodge #44 Vikings. Get your picture taken. At Kvelstad pavilion.

•7:30-9:30 p.m.

Music by The In Crowd, a cover band from Kitsap County, at Kvelstad pavilion.

Saturday — “Syttenda Mai” — May 17

•7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

32nd Annual Poulsbo Noon Lions Breakfast — Sausage, eggs, orange juice, milk, tea and all you can eat pancakes — at the Poulsbo Armory. Tickets $6 for adults and $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 North Kitsap Parks and Recreation and Kitsap Federal Credit Union. Pre-registration is $13 and late registration (Friday or Saturday) is $15.

7:30-9 a.m. – Check in at Lions Park

9 a.m. – Start of the 5-mile run

9:05 a.m. – Start of the 1-mile run

10:15 a.m. – Start of the 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 throughout the show, 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. Come early for the best plant choices. Vendors for garden supplies and accessories will also be there. For more information, call Carolyn Gillick at (360) 779-3466.

•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, orange juice, milk, tea and all you can eat pancakes — at the Poulsbo Armory. Tickets $6 for adults and $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 opens 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 Kitsap County 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 presentation 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 presentation 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 and pay $10 entry fee before Sunday at noon. First, second and third place prizes. Sign up at the information booth.

•2 p.m.

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

•4 p.m.

Festival closes.