The NorseWest Viking Festival will spring into action from 10 am. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12, at Wilkowski Park in Rainier.

The Lost Boys, a nonprofit youth-outreach organization led by William Koutrouba, will put on the third installment of the festival, which is sponsored by Quarter Mile Bar and Grill.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, there will be a “full Viking blessing ceremony” for the public and participants.

Wrestling will follow the blessing, along with classes throughout the weekend like weaving on looms, skinning, tanning, masonry, archery, axe throwing and more.

“Of course the costume contest is our big thing, because the kids really like costume contests,” Koutrouba said, noting that folks will wander around the festival in full Viking gear.

He encourages everyone to dress up, as the members of the Lost Boys have been creating their costumes for months.

There will also be sword fighting along with a thing called “boppering” for the kids, where participants will undergo bouts with each other, wearing protective equipment.

Attendees are asked to wear masks, Koutrouba said.

“We all wear our masks with our helmets and our stuff. … It just sends out a positive message I think,” he said. “Not everybody agrees with the mandates, and this and that, but we’re going to do what the city and the state asks us to do to keep everybody safe.”

There will be three bouncy houses for the kids, six horses to meet and a beer garden for the adults.

The guys from the television show “Forged in Fire” will also be making weapons for spectators.

The festival will take a break to honor those who were affected by the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“We’ve got the Vets for Viking Motorcycle Run … because it’s the 20th anniversary of 9/11,” Koutrouba said. “All of our proceeds are going to the American Legion’s Hero’s Promise. All of our money this year is going to them.”

Five of the lost boys are veterans of the conflict in Afghanistan, with four others being veterans of the war in Iraq, he said.

“We’ve got to protect our boys. With the state of America right now, we need kind of a boost, we need a shot in the arm,” Koutrouba said, using a metaphor of the times. “But this will be one because we feel that we’ve got to bring something back to the people, to help these kids that were in Afghanistan.”

When the bikers get to the festival at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the fighting will begin. People in full suits of armor will combat one another as crowds of people cheer them on.

There will also be dozens of vendors, including a Viking market, where folks either create or sell things that are period-correct to the times of the Vikings.

“That’s our big deal, is to make a beautiful event and bring America back to having a good free event,” Koutrouba said.