SPIRIT LAKE — The lack of snow will be no issue Saturday for the fourth annual Winterfest and popular Outhouse Races — but the racecourse will look a bit different.

Previously, the racecourse consisted of a snowy span of about 50 yards on Fourth Street between Maine and Washington. Last year, the city trucked in snow to ensure the show would go on.

This year, the city plans to take advantage of the slippery conditions on the east side of City Park. Participants will race their custom-built outhouses along the grass, which is frozen over with older snow and ice.

“At first we said, ‘If you’re building an outhouse, you might have to put wheels on it,” said Mitzi Michaud, activities director for Spirit Lake Parks and Recreation. “But they’ll definitely need the skis.”

The park will also allow more lanes — and more racers — in each race, Michaud said.

This year, students from Timberlake Middle School built an outhouse for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. It’ll be one of nearly 10 outhouses available for the community to race with if they don’t bring their own on race day.

“I’m kind of hoping (the students) show up to race it,” Michaud said.

Onlookers will have a chance to vote on their favorite outhouse. Teams that come out on top will win a gold-plated medal featuring the image of a toilet, of course.

Also new this year, human bowling games will take place between Outhouse Race heats. The game involves a person being pushed on a sled as they try to grab as many inflatable snowman bowling pins as possible.

Snowman lassoing, a chili cookoff and other activities are scheduled.

“We’ll have a ton of fun, and if it’s snowing then it’ll be even more festive,” Michaud said.

Festivities begin around 11 a.m. and will last into the afternoon.