BRISTOL — The Fourth of July means a lot of things in Bristol: fireworks, a big parade with a large crowd, barbecues — and outhouses careening down Main Street.

Now in its 46th year, the so-called “World Championship” Outhouse Race was back this past Friday with a thunderous return. Eight teams competed in this year’s showdown of toilet-seat pageantry and athletic ambition. When the last paper towel ribbon was torn at the finish line, it was Otterly Hopeless trio, representing Otter Creek Engineering, that sped away with the title and the coveted bedazzled gold plunger.

“We felt pretty good at the start,” said Noah Beayon, a runner on the men’s track and field team at the University of Vermont. He and Otterly teammate Geoff Johnson powered the outhouse while Jessica Donlevie held steady inside. “That endurance kicked in, and we were good to go.”

The race followed its classic format: four initial heats of two teams each, with winners advancing to a high-energy final dash — a four-way sprint that transforms Main Street into a 500-foot blur of flailing legs, rattling wheels, and cheers from the big crowd echoing between storefronts and tents on the town green.

The pushing and pulling strategy varied from team to team, but one theme held constant: speed matters. In Heat 1, Blue Ledge Farms took the lead early and never let go. “You have to run really hard, and the race is way harder than you think it is,” said Blue Ledge pusher Cameron Perta, winded but smiling after the finish.

Their opponents, The Cludgie Boys, summed up their strategy for next year: “Just be faster.”

Otterly Hopeless charged ahead in Heat 2, despite a false start, outpacing 5Town Riders with a steady push strategy. White Ridge Construction claimed Heat 3, pulling away from Legends, while Jackman’s of Bristol held steady in a chaotic Heat 4, where The Poo Boys briefly veered off course before recovering.

The final brought the biggest roar of the day. All four heat winners launched at once. For a moment, it looked like Blue Ledge Farm might pull ahead, but Otterly Hopeless held them off in the middle of Main Street.

“I was looking back and thinking, ‘Yeah, we got this,’” Donlevie said.

“Start felt pretty good,” Beayon added. “I want to say maybe 75 meters in, that’s when I was like, ‘Yeah, we actually got it.’”

“Got the win we wanted,” Johnson said.

This year’s winner for Best Decorated Outhouse went to White Ridge Construction, proving that style still matters in a race that’s as much about flair as it is about footspeed. From patriotic paint jobs to flags and streamers, outhouse designs brought as much personality as the teams pushing them.

The community spirit shows the true heart of the event. Families, neighbors, and out-of-towners lined the race route, cheering, laughing and soaking in what many describe as a tradition that defines the town.

“It’s just a really fun activity for the Fourth,” said Abby Roleau, rider for Jackman’s of Bristol. “I’m excited to see all the decorations and all the teams that come out … It puts us on the map, and it’s a great opportunity to get people to come to our little town and support local businesses.”

The outhouse race also helps fuel Bristol’s broader Fourth of July celebrations, which span two days including in the town’s big fireworks display on the 3rd. Raffle tickets — sold for $1 before each heat of the Outhouse Race — let spectators wager on a winner, with lucky bets earning $25 or more. The remaining proceeds go to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee.

“Fireworks alone cost close to $15,000,” said Meridith McFarland, director of the Bristol Recreation Department and one of the race’s spirited emcees. “When we bring in money from the outhouse race, we can actually get new coaster wheels or build new outhouses if one needs to be retired. We’re just recycling it back in.”

For McFarland, the energy on Main Street is just as rewarding as the funds raised.

“Honestly, this part right here — just being able to interact with the community — is really fun,” she said. “I didn’t know I liked talking on the microphone, but I think I like it, so I’ll just keep doing it.”

As the crowd cleared and parade-watchers claimed their spots along the sidewalks, Otterly Hopeless basked in the glow of their golden plunger victory.

When asked what advice they’d offer to future racers, Donlevie didn’t miss a beat:

“Find yourself a D-I runner.”