One of Colorado’s most treasured — and unique — festivals is getting a new home. After outgrowing its roots in Nederland, the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival is getting new life in Estes Park. (See what I did there?)
Festival Beginnings
The Frozen Dead Guy Festival gets its name honestly; it quite literally is a celebration of a dead guy who is currently frozen. His name is Grandpa Bredo and he is from Norway. When he died in 1989, his body was put on ice to transfer it back to his family in the United States. His body was eventually sent to his daughter in the small town of Nederland, Colorado, but not before spending 4 years at the Trans Time cryonics facility in Oakland, California.
Keeping a frozen body in town caused a bit of a stir, so the city council passed an ordinance allowing Bredo’s body to stay, and thus began his celebrity status. Soon after, a festival was born to celebrate Grandpa Bredo, and now, more than 20 years later, it’s grown to about 20,000 attendees. That influx of people was getting a bit too much for Nederland, a small town of only 1,600 residents, to handle each year.
New Home, Same Celebration
Starting this year, Frozen Dead Guy Days is moving to Estes Park, Colorado. Situated at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park just an hour and a half northwest of Denver, Estes Park is a widely popular tourist town. From March 17–19, 2023, the town will host the iconic festival, with proceeds going back into the community.
“We’re very excited to give new life to this iconic Colorado festival, while maintaining its quirky vibe,” says Kara Franker, CEO of Visit Estes Park. “Estes is built for events like this as we have the right venues and infrastructure to suit the festival’s size. Additionally, it will support the town during a slower season and ultimately give a boost to workforce housing and childcare.”
The festival will take place at the Estes Park Events Complex and the historic Stanley Hotel (the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining). Keeping with tradition, there will be coffin races, a polar plunge, live music, and spirited cocktails. Estes Park will also introduce new events this year, such as a deadman fashion show, roaming acts, and Bands & Bloodys Sunday Brunch.
“Frozen Dead Guy Days is going to be a fundamental shift for Estes Park,” says John Cullen, owner and CEO of The Stanley Hotel. “Together, we’re going to create a winter festival playground and we are proud to have The Stanley be the host hotel for it.”
Through the vision of the new FDGD executive team, Visit Estes Park, and The Stanley Hotel, plans are underway to make the inaugural Estes Park Frozen Dead Guy Days the most fun yet. Specific dates and times will be announced soon.
Buy Early And Save
Tickets for the event are on sale now and will go up in price as the event draws closer. Purchase by the end of January and get your tickets for just $29. Tickets include music, performances, activities, and events. The coffin races team registration is extra and is $98 per team. Ticket prices go up to $39 in February.
Think this festival sounds fun? Colorado also hosts festivals paying homage to a headless chicken, plus wine and corn. If you’re heading to Estes Park for Frozen Dead Guy Days, consider traveling in an RV; plus, here are our favorite places to eat there.
