Viking Fest Could Stay Downtown


It's been a bit of a moving target, but it appears Poulsbo's popular Viking Fest — and its carnival — could be staying downtown.

The proposal now is to locate the Viking Fest carnival on the King Olav parking lot near Poulsbo City Hall and Martha and Mary, and keep the rest of the festival in its traditional location downtown.

It's been a long road to get to this point after Front Street neighborhood merchants petitioned to move the carnival out of the downtown because they felt it had become too big, didn't fit with the cultural theme and took away parking, resulting in lost business.

A later proposal to move to the north end of the Poulsbo Village shopping center received similar objections.

Viking Fest Corporation is a nonprofit of primarily a half-dozen people who organize the popular May festival, which includes a parade, Viking Village re-enactment, food booths, a road race, the carnival, music, dance and a lutefisk eating competition.

Viking Fest President Ron Krell said while some object to the carnival, many others enjoy the feature, as evidenced by $7,500 in pre-sold ride wrist bands last year alone.

"That speaks to a high level of interest and support, he said. "The families, teenagers, and young adults who visit the carnival also visit the booth area and purchase the food that the non-profits are selling. If the carnival is separated from the booths, the booths lose that business and don't make the money they are counting on to fund their activities."

Krell said Martha and Mary has agreed to a one-year trial with the carnival at the King Olav site, and the plan now awaits the city's approval.


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Comments » 8

Jason1 writes:

I have no problem with Viking Fest staying downtown. The only thing I despise is the carnival. DROP IT. If you want to celebrate Poulsbo's Norwegian heritage, that's fine. But the carnival is a waste. Focus on those who came here 100+ years ago, what traditions they brought, challenges they faced etc..... How did those early settlers handle the torrential rain, sub-freezing nights, snow, relations with the local tribes etc.... That would be more worthwhile than a darn carnival, sitting on 305 for 45 minutes to travel 3 miles etc....

lynnwa writes:

I never go to Viking Fest anymore. Reasons are: no parking, to many people to even move around, gridlocked roads around the fest, that stupid overpriced carnival, and many more I can't even list here. I am with Jason1, keep it about the heritage of the area.

kodos writes:

I can only imagine that the people who are so adamant about dropping the carnival do not have children who look forward to it every year. Our family loves the carnival at Viking Fest! Yes, it's overpriced, yes, it's crowded, but what carnival is reasonably priced with few people? Ever been to Disneyland?

yourfitlife#285695 writes:


hosscow#210388 (Inactive) writes:

Take away the carnival and I bet the attendance is way down. The carnival and watching our kids march in the band are the only reasons my family ever wanted to go to Viking Fest. By the way we also ate at local restaurants every time we were at Viking Fest and it is the only time. Since the bank moved and the old barbershop is gone, we have no reason to go downtown. Wake up people, the stores downtown sell useless junk.

JMO writes:

The Marina Market sells food and candy from all over the world, Norway included I don't think food is useless junk.

calkid writes:

I wonder how many real Vikings went to carnivals. They say the festival would see less numbers if they got rid of the carnival. Has any one considered the fact that many people who would attend don't, because of the carnival. If Poulsbo wants a carnival go for it, but have it some place else and maybe some other time of year. If they need the carnival, have it someplace away from the "real" festival and run a shuddle from where parking and the carnival is located. Think of the kind people a carnival attracts. They are not those looking for heritage events. They are looking for a place to play, so I don't see why it can't be away from the real festival.

hosscow#210388 (Inactive) writes:

Duh, I wonder how many real Vikings had road races, beauty pageants, or walked in parades. I thought Viking Fest celebrated Norwegian Independence day, what does it have to do with Vikings other than the name? Name a carnival that comes to North Kitsap.
Poulsbo is turning into a Yuppie Village that wants to exclude kids. I think I'll shop at the new downtown west of highway 3.
