POULSBO — The return of two familiar faces will mark the beginning of the 39th annual Viking Fest at 4 p.m. Friday at the Kvelstad Pavilion.

The Poulsbo Marine Science Center will be on display throughout the weekend, and fireworks will light up the skies Friday night as well.

The countdown officially kicked off Saturday during a live remote at Valley Nursery with Seattle country radio station 94.1 FM KMPS and DJ Flo The Afternoon Traffic Diva.

“Everything appears to be in place, even though we’re not sure about Viking Village,” Viking Fest executive secretary Kathi Foresee said Monday morning.

Because of concerns about the use of Waterfront Park after its recent renovations, which included newly planted grass, Foresee said the Glam Folk Vikings were uncertain of their plans.

Now that city officials have decided to allow the group to set up at the popular park, Foresee said she is hopeful they will return as they have been mainstays at the event for several years.

The next noticeable sign that the three-day festival is on its way will be the closure of Anderson Parkway at 3 p.m. Thursday as the carnival rides and games will be erected.

“We’re clearing the parking lot. After 3 p.m. we’ll start towing,” Foresee said.

The carnival will occupy most of the parking lot, while food vendors and other booths will occupy the remainder.

The opening ceremonies and carnival will mark the beginning of the event Friday afternoon with fireworks returning to the skies above Liberty Bay that evening at 10 p.m., but that doesn’t mean Saturday morning won’t be without its fun events, either.

Runners of all ages and abilities will congregate at Lions Park for the Viking Fest Road Race and the Poulsbo Noon Lions will be cooking up their usual pancake breakfast at the Poulsbo Armory on Jensen Way.

The parade will meander through downtown at 2 p.m. as thousands of onlookers will line Front Street to catch a glimpse of not only Miss Viking Fest 2007 Whitney Glebe, but a number of Vikings as well.

A special addition to this year’s event is the first public viewing of the Poulsbo Marine Science Center since it closed its doors in March 2005 due to funding concerns.

Bight of Poulsbo founder Bill Austin has led the charge to reopen the center, and although the PMSC isn’t quite ready for use, the public will have the opportunity to see how much progress has been made.

While visitors may be slightly inconvenienced by the State Route 305 widening project, no road closures are scheduled during the three-day event as promised by the Washington State Department of Transportation.

For more details on all of the Viking Fest events and schedules, see today’s What’s Up section in the Herald or visit www.vikingfest.org.