WELCOME TO POULSBO'S
40th Annual
VIKING FEST PARADE EVENT 2008!

This is the Fortieth year that Poulsbo has celebrated Viking Fest, a tribute to their Norwegian ancestors and a celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day, May 17. This year's celebration takes place on May 16, 17 and 18, 2008. Events taking place during the three days include: Opening Ceremony, Road Race, Food Booths, Entertainment at thePavilion, Pancake Breakfast, Authentic Viking Village, and much, much more, including the VIKING FEST PARADE.
The parade will be held on Saturday, 17th, at 2:00p.m. The theme for this year’s festival is “40 Years of Heritage”. All parade participants must have some form of Norwegian design to their floats and or dress (MarchingBands/Units Drill Teams with Uniforms may carry the Norwegian Flag to stay with the theme). Poulsbo library has research material available to help in the endeavor.
The Viking Fest Corporation has established the guidelines for this year’s parade as we strive to upgrade the event, make it safer and of higher entertainment value to the spectators. Please review the attached rules, regulations and policies before you return your entry form. Entries are due no later than April 16, 2008. Entry forms not filled out completely will be returned. As we are receiving more entries each year, total number of entries will be limited, and all late entries will be placed on a priority list. If your entry is received after April 16th, a late fee of $75.00 will be added. Any entries received after May 1st, requires a $125.00 fee. As you can see, it pays to get your entry in NOW! This year there will be a limit on commercial vehicles of one per entry. If you wish to have more than one there will be a charge of $70.00 per vehicle with a limit of 4. (If you are a sponsor this doesn’t apply-contact us about being a sponsor). All entries will be reviewed by the Corporation. Criteria priority will be given to themes reflecting our Norwegian heritage, Scandinavian focus on music, dance and costumes, music groups and clowns, and entertainment and audience appeal. The Corporation reserves the right to reject or cancel any entrant at any time should it be determined that the entry detracts from the basic purpose of the parade.

RETURNING GROUPS
We welcome you back to our wonderful City as you are the reason our parade is a success.

and

NEW ENTRIES
We cordially invite you to participate in a day of jubilant celebration of which the parade is an important part. There is no entry fee as long as your entry is in on TIME.

VIKING FEST PARADE POLICIES

I. GENERAL
A. There are no entry fees to the Viking Fest Parade as long as the application is post marked no later than April 16, 2008. If the entry is post marked after April 16, 2008, then it must be accompanied with a $75.00 registration fee; after May 1, 2008 requires a $125.00 registration fee. All checks for this late fee should be made out to Viking Fest Corporation. Commercial vehicles will be limited to one, with a $70.00 charge for each vehicle up to 4. (unless you’re a sponsor call for sponsor information).
B. All parade units are selected by the Corporation which reserves the right to accept, reject or cancel an entry at any time. (Entries are by invitation only and must be approved by the Corporation.).
C. Applications for each entry must be completed in full in order to be accepted as an authorized entrant. If more than one float/vehicle/marching unit/etc. per organization is to be entered, a separate sheet identifying each additional unit for that organization must accompany application - otherwise only one unit per organization is allowed. This will be strictly enforced the day of the parade.
D. If candy, flyers, etc. is to be given out it CAN’T be thrown, it must be handed along the sidelines. This is for the safety of spectators.
II. FLOATS
Float Themes should be individual and must in some way relate to the theme of Viking Fest. If the float is towed by a separate vehicle, this vehicle must also be decorated.
III. BANDS & DRILL TEAMS
Bands & Drill Teams will be judged prior to and on the parade route in one of the below categories. Band directors need to ensure that they are ready to perform in front of the judges for no longer than 3 minutes during the pre-parade judging. 1. High School 2. Junior High School 3. Other(specialty)
IV. EQUESTRIAN UNITS
All equestrian units must provide their own clean-up crews for the assembly, parade route and dispersal areas.
V. SPECIALTY UNITS
Entries other than floats, bands, drill teams and equestrian units are designated as specialty entries. They include, but are not limited to, walking groups, clowns, beauty pageant winners, novelty units, Grand Marshal, Honorary Guests, Police and Fire Units.
VI. LATE ENTRIES
All applications for entry in the Viking Fest Parade must be received by the specified deadline. Entry applications received after the deadline will be placed on a waiting list, but consideration will still be based on entertainment value and quality.
VII. RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules and regulations are established for each entry division. These will be sent upon acceptance into the parade. Along with directions and parade placement. Disregard of these rules at any time before or during the parade may, at the discretion of the Corporation and parade officials, result in elimination of that entry. Future invites may be jeopardized.
Once you have received and reviewed the rules and regulations, a written letter of request to the Corporation must be made for any variations requested. Consideration to your request will be given, but not guaranteed. It is the responsibility of each unit to ensure that they are fully aware of all policies, rules and regulations of the parade. Ignorance is not a justifiable excuse.
VIII. INSURANCE
If your unit carries liability, bodily injury, property damage insurance, the following must be named as additional insured, for the duration of the parade only, at no cost to Viking Fest Corporation: 1. Viking Fest Corporation 2. City of Poulsbo.

You may fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION (NOTE: You will receive date priority but, you will still need to print and mail a hardcopy with your signature) or obtain a PRINTABLE APPLICATION PACKET (.pdf) and MAIL THE COMPLETED FORMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to:

VIKING FEST CORPORATION
P.O. BOX 1125
POULSBO, WA 98370

Any questions? Call our festival line at (360) 697-7450 (Message only).

Sincerely,

Kathi Foresee
Parade Chairperson