As far as silly traditions go, there is one that almost everyone looks forward to each February at the ski slopes in Sapphire.
This is not Groundhog Day or National Pet Dental Month, but Highlands-Cashiers Plateau residents as well as people from across the Southeast do gather around and get a kick out of engaging in this exciting tomfoolery.
The 2023 Outhouse Race is returning on Feb. 18, inviting people from all over to get creative and have fun racing down the hill in outhouses designed by participants.
Registration for the event begins at 1:30 p.m., followed by a static parade of the entries at 2 p.m., and the race kicks off at 3 p.m.
This year’s event is the 16th annual at Sapphire Valley Resort.
“One cold winter’s evening, a group of Sapphire Valley men, year-round residents, were sitting around, and they were a little bored,” Sapphire Valley Resort Director of Marketing Linda Foxworth said. “It is cold up here and rather lonely after all of the summer people leave, and everyone gets a little bored. The guys decided they needed to liven up the place a bit, have a little fun, a few laughs and make some money for a local charity. Thus, the Outhouse Race was born.”
There is a $100 entry fee for those participating in the race, and people can rent an outhouse for $125. Attendees can watch for free.
The outhouse must be able to endure sliding down 120 feet of snow or ice, depending on the weather that day. There are other stringent specifications the outhouse must meet so as not to give a team the advantage over others.
For approximately an hour, teams of two will push someone sitting inside the outhouse down the slope against their competitors. These teams will be lined up and go repeatedly until the last run at 4 p.m.
Decorations and designs for these outhouses also tend to get wild and creative. Some of the designs in last year’s races include Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter from the 1977 “Star Wars” movie and an homage to the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team.
Food and drinks will be provided by the Rotary Club of the Cashiers Valley and at the Slopeside Tavern restaurant on site. All the proceeds, minus the food costs, will go to the Rotary Club of the Cashiers Valley.
Sweeten Creek Brewery and Hi-Wire Brewery will also be on site serving cold brews.
Live mountain music will start at 11:30 a.m. with a performance by the Jackson Taylor Band. Spalding McIntosh and the Lionhearts are scheduled to perform at 3:30 p.m.
There is a trophy for the last outhouse standing, and Foxworth noted that many who participate take it seriously. Participants come from as far as Alabama or Florida, and she said there were approximately 3,000 people in attendance at the 2022 race.
“I love the entire event, the static parade and the race itself,” Foxworth said. “It is just so much fun, and everyone is so happy and having a good time. And it is the middle of Winter and often cold. Often, the weather is not good, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone is having a good time.”