From left, Andrew Crunkleton, Ben Platt and Ross Anthony of Marquette push their commode creation down the snow-covered track during a previous Trenary Outhouse Classic. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, with races kicking off at 2 p.m. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The 29th-Ever Trenary Outhouse Classic will make its return Saturday after last year’s event was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event kicks off at noon Saturday with the races starting at 2 p.m. In addition to the race, there will also be the best fur hat contest, as well as vendors and souvenirs.

“We were really disappointed that we had to cancel last year,” said Mimi Cady, president of the Trenary Outhouse Classic. “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to bring it back this year.”

The races are held on the final weekend of February each year. Since the race’s inception in 1994, it has become a yearly highlight for Upper Peninsula residents and out-of-towners alike.

Past winners of the races have come from all over Michigan, as well as North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana and beyond.

The outhouses come in all shapes and sizes and range from simple structures to intricately designed outhouses built for speed. Teams of two race the outhouses, which are placed on skis, through Trenary’s Main Street.

The Trenary Outhouse Classic was founded by Trenary legend Toivo Aho. Aho was inspired by a similar type of event which was held in Washington state. Aho thought it would be a good way to break up the long winter months. If nearly 30 years of the event is any indication, his assumption proved to be correct.

“Toivo was determined to make this winter event one of the largest in the U.P. Everywhere he went, he talked about the races. He was always looking for new ideas and how to make the race a larger, better-known event. The first few years the race started out on the sidewalk and eventually had to be moved to the street because of all the racers and spectators,” the Trenary Outhouse Classic website states.

Registration for the event begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and anyone who is interested in taking part can find instructions on how to print and fill out the registration form online at www.trenaryouthouseclassic.com.

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.