POULSBO — Viking Fest was just the beginning for Miss Viking Fest Carson Smallbeck.

A summer full of fundraising and parades lies ahead for Smallbeck before she leaves for Washington State University in Pullman to study pharmaceutical sciences in August. Smallbeck wasn’t expecting to capture the title in this year’s Viking Fest pageant, though she was a princess in the Viking Fest court last year.

“It was good,” Smallbeck said. “I was surprised.”

She represents Poulsbo through and through; her parents and grandparents were all born and raised in the town. Growing up with Viking Fest, Smallbeck was always enamored with the thought of the festival’s shimmering crowns.

“I was one of the little girls who was like ‘Oh my gosh, princesses,’ so it’s funny how things work out,” Smallbeck said.

From the parade to judging the lutefisk eating contest, Smallbeck was in the public eye for Viking Fest.

The court had to sample lutefisk to be judges for the contest and Smallbeck was the only one who didn’t waiver. Her uncle used to make her eat the Norwegian dish of whitefish soaked in lye before she could get a Christmas present every year, she said.

“My strategy was to just swallow it,” Smallbeck said.

Last year, the pageant taught Smallbeck a lot about being a mentor for younger girls while earning money for college.

With college is on the horizon for Smallbeck, future pageants may not be. She has yet to decide if she’ll continue competing.

With the upcoming summer of public outreach upon her, Smallbeck looks forward to getting as much done for the community as she can before leaving for college.

“Viking Fest is just the beginning,” Smallbeck said.