When speaking to people of a more southern climate, they often hear tales about our Upper Peninsula winters and wonder — don’t you have to be crazy to live up there? And maybe we are a little bit crazy… But we sure know how to have fun and make the most of it. The Trenary Outhouse Classic is one great example of that.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, teams of two will take off down Trenary’s Main Street with homemade outhouses on skis and compete for the fastest time down the 400-foot track.

The idea to race outhouses began with founder Toivo Aho who witnessed a similar race in the state of Washington. He thought outhouse races were the perfect way to gather the community and bring some excitement into the dead of winter, the Trenary Outhouse Classic website states.

“Toivo was determined to make this winter event one of the largest in the U.P.,” the website reads. “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.”

Now each year 25 to 30 teams build outhouses out of cardboard, wood, plastic and other materials to compete in the annual race.

Outhouses can be made from just about anything except metal and they must be outfitted with a toilet seat and a roll of toilet paper, explained Trenary Outhouse Classic President Mimi Cady. In past years she’s seen outhouses shaped like wrecking balls, bulldozers and more.

Racers compete in seven categories with cash prizes awarded to those with the best times. The first three categories are for racers ages 5 to 17 while categories four through seven are for racers 18 and up.

Vendors will be present during the event which officially begins at 11 a.m. The Trenary Tavern and the Trenary Home Bakery will be serving food and goodies as well as the Mathias Township Fire Department, which will be selling hot dogs and brats.

Cady encouraged the public to attend the outhouse classic not only because it is a unique and fun event but “because all the money raised is going toward a good cause,” she said. “It all goes back into our community and to help strengthen and beautify the best we can and support our other small nonprofits in the area. We also have a scholarship that we give out at Superior Central every year and we’re working toward the goal of repaving our town basketball court.”

One thing is for sure — Yoopers know how to make the most out of these abysmal winters we are forced to live through. The Outhouse races are not only a great time, but they proceeds go to a good cause as well. If you’ve never attended, this is definitely one to add to your Yooper bucket list.