A Festival for a Frozen Dead Guy

We passed by people carrying around coffins, rows of hearses lined up outfitted with skulls, halloween-style decorations, skeletons, and more, and there were all kinds of people wearing crazy outfits.

No, this was not Halloween. This is actually in March at a festival called Frozen Dead Guy Days in the small mountain town of Nederland, Colorado.

Who’s the Dead Guy, and How Did He End Up In Nederland?

It all started when this Norwegian guy Bredo Morstel (better known as Grandpa Bredo) died from a heart condition in 1989. His grandson, Trygve Bauge, wasn’t quite ready to part with his dear grandfather yet, so naturally, he shipped his body off to California preserving it with dry ice and it was then placed in liquid nitrogen for nearly four years.

So where does Nederland come in? Grandpa Bredo’s daughter, Aud Morstoel, and Trygve made the move out to Nederland, and in 1993 Grandpa was sent to live in the shed behind their house, returning to dry ice preservation.

Statue of Grandpa Bredo

Eventually, Trygve’s visa expired so he had to leave the country and he hasn’t been back since. Aud stuck around to take care of the house and Grandpa Bredo. However, she was soon evicted for living in a house with no plumbing or electricity, a violation of local ordinances. Her biggest concern at the time was that her father’s body would thaw out, so she told a local reporter who then went and told the local city council.

This led to the city passing Section 7-34 of the municipal code regarding the “keeping of bodies,” making it illegal to store any dead body (or body part) in your home. By this point, so many people already knew about Grandpa Bredo, so he was lucky enough to be “grandfathered in” and they let him stay in town.

Frozen Dead Guy Days Was Born

Frozen Dead Guy Days kicked off in 2002, and the event has become an international sensation. A few of the activities you will find at the celebration include brain freeze contests, coffin racing, frozen turkey bowling, frozen salmon tossing, and polar plunging.

Coffin Racing at Frozen Dead Guy Days

Aside from the fun and entertaining activities going on throughout the weekend, there is also food, beer, and live music to enjoy. There is something to do for people of all ages, and it will definitely be an event unlike any other you have been to before.

Live Music at Frozen Dead Guy Days

The next Frozen Dead Guy Days festival will be held March 11-13, 2016. Keep up with the latest Frozen Dead Guy Days updates on their Facebook page. As the most unique event I have ever attended, this is one you won’t want to miss!

What is the most interesting festival you have ever been to? Let me know in the comments below!