Viking Fest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, tasked by the City to put on Viking Fest and the 3rd of July celebrations in Poulsbo; all members are unpaid volunteers who put in countless hours planning and organizing the festival and the Miss Viking Fest pageant, then make them happen. My deepest gratitude is to them for their unfailing support.
On behalf of Viking Fest Corporation, I would also like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to those who help sponsor Viking Fest each year by donating funds or services. The cost of festivals tend to rise from one year to the next—were it not for the donations of services and cost-cutting measures we have taken, that would be true of Viking Fest. Instead we have lowered our costs from last year to this.
Money left at the end of the year is used for scholarships for area students ($5,000 last year) and for upgrades to our infrastructure. (This year we are redoing the electrical system.) The list of those who contribute to Viking Fest is long: Central Market, Valley Nursery, Hill Moving and Storage, Viking Fence, Bird Electric, Viking Bank, Paradise Amusements Company, James Lumber, Agate Pass Transportation, Bainbridge Disposal, Blue Sky Printing, Team Innovative landscaping, Clearwater Casino, Lowes, Tizley’s Europub, Envy Bar & Grill, The Loft Restaurant, New Day Fishery, Poulsbo Sons of Norway Lodge, Poulsbo Inn, and Little Bean Espresso.
We are grateful for the support of Mayor Becky Erickson and the City Council. Without their backing the festival couldn’t happen. The City’s Police and Public Works Departments contribute much toward making this a safe event and in enabling the City to look its finest for the thousands of visitors who come to celebrate our City’s Norwegian heritage.
And finally we’d like to thank the merchants and citizens of Poulsbo for their patience. They may grumble about the traffic congestion the festival causes during the weekend, but as often as not, invite their out-of-town friends to come and join in our celebration!
Ron Krell, president
Viking Fest
