In the world of unusual spring festivals, Frozen Dead Guy Days stands out. Held each year in the small mountain town of Nederland, Colorado, roughly an hour from Denver, the festival grew from the real-life story of Bredo Morstoel. Morstoel was cryogenically frozen and brought to Nederland in 1993 by his grandson, Trygve Bauge, who stored him in a backyard shed with plans to develop a cryogenics facility. When Bauge was later deported to Norway, local authorities allowed Morstoel to remain, effectively “grandfathering” his unique situation into town ordinance. That odd history helped inspire a quirky annual celebration that now draws international media attention.
This year’s festival runs March 7–9 and features a wide range of entertaining and eccentric events. Highlights include the Amazing Live Music Showcase, coffin races, costume polar plunges, frozen T-shirt contests, and ice turkey bowling. Competitions such as brain freeze challenges and frozen salmon tossing add to the offbeat atmosphere, while a parade of hearses and readings from the Frozen Dead Poet Society provide theatrical and literary flourishes. Martial arts performances by Wu Shu add another unexpected element to the program.
The festival’s opening night features a Frozen Zombie Procession that starts at the town’s single roundabout and moves toward the Blue Ball, where attendees can enjoy live music and dancing. Throughout the weekend there are multiple screenings of two award-winning short films that chronicle the story behind the event: Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed and Grandpa’s Still in the Tuff Shed. These films, along with the other activities, celebrate the town’s sense of humor and community spirit while attracting visitors curious about Nederland’s eccentric local tradition.
Beyond its headline attractions, Frozen Dead Guy Days reflects the playful side of small-town culture. Costume contests and creative competitions encourage visitors to embrace the festival’s irreverent tone, while live bands and stage acts offer more conventional entertainment. The mix of bizarre and family-friendly activities makes the event approachable for a wide range of attendees—those looking for a laugh, fans of oddball Americana, and anyone intrigued by the real story that inspired it.
Nederland’s annual celebration has become a cultural touchstone for the region, showcasing how an unusual local incident can evolve into a widely recognized event. The town’s willingness to lean into its eccentric past has turned a once-private curiosity into a lively weekend that attracts residents and out-of-town visitors alike. Whether you come for the coffin races, the music, the films, or simply the experience of something truly different, Frozen Dead Guy Days offers an unforgettable blend of humor, performance, and community.