The Monday Mommy: Frozen Dead Guy Days is keeping Nederland weird and wonderful.
“Frozen Dead Guys lineup this year included a costumed Polar Plunge, Ice Turkey Bowling, coffin races, a frozen t-shirt contest and the hearse parade. “
Read More…
Hearses, coffins, random pirates and a steady stream of heavy metal music made its way through the streets of Nederland in the form of a parade this past weekend. And that was just the beginning of the three day celebration known as the Frozen Dead Guy Days.
This event in its 13th year celebrates and commemorates the cryonically frozen body of Bredo Morstoel the town’s most infamous former resident. Except for jam band fans who would probably argue it would lean towards guys from Leftover Salmon or Yonder Mountain String Band.
Morstoel, originally from Norway was known as “Grandpa” and passed away over 20 years ago. His grandson Trygve Bauge had his frozen body stored in a shed located behind his house. Even though Bauge was eventually deported, “Grandpa” was grandfathered in to the town, since it no longer allows frozen bodies within the city limits, and still remains in residence in Nederland.
Every month Bob Shaffer, who probably has one of the most bizarre jobs on the planet, along with a team of volunteers, delivers 1,600 pounds of dry ice and packs it around Morstoel in his sarcophagus, covered by tarps and surrounded by foam padding and blankets. As his cryonicist, Shaffer keeps the body at a very steady 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nederland prides itself as an offbeat, colorful community and this three-day festival is a solid way for them to say goodbye to the long cold days of winter and usher in the melting of the spring. The event was kicked off on Friday night by the Opening Ceremony complete with the lighting of the center piece in the town’s roundabout. This was of course followed shortly by a zombie procession to the Blue Ball. Get it, Blue Ball? That’s pure hilarity.
Frozen Dead Guys lineup this year included a costumed Polar Plunge, Ice Turkey Bowling, coffin races, a frozen t-shirt contest and the hearse parade. Yes, you read that correctly; frozen t-shirt contest. Simply put, people race to attempt to put on a shirt that has been frozen faster than the next guy.
To round out the crazy good time, the whole event was sponsored by Avery Brewery, so festival goers were able to enjoy a libation or four while chowing down on food from the trucks and vendors on site. If plunging in to the freezing water dressed as Nacho Libre or attempting to pick up that spare with a frozen Tom the turkey isn’t your thing, there were also two stages with live music from 20 bands playing all weekend long.
People come from all over the world to experience this quirky March ritual in the town of Nederland- even representatives of cryonics organizations who are there to share the science behind it.
I absolutely love the spirit of this festival, it’s hard not to. I have lived in a few mountain towns Nederland included, and know just how long those winters can feel. When the snow starts to melt and the thaw begins, people are ready to emerge and get their freak flags out.
Let them fly high Nederland and long live the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival.
