The Fascinating Origins of the Annual Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival in Nederland, Colorado

Atlas Obscura takes a look at the fascinating story behind Frozen Dead Guy Days, the oddly monikered Spring festival that takes place every year in Nederland, Colorado. The festival was named after Bredo Morstel, a Norwegian man whose grandson packed his dead body in dry ice and placed it in a Tuff Shed in the hills above the mountain town. The event is now in its 15th year and includes such events as coffin racing, brain freeze races and Silent Disco.

Colorado’s “most frigidly fun festival” features outrageous events like the Blue Ball, coffin races, costumed polar plunge, ice turkey bowling, frozen T-shirt and brain freeze contests, Snowy Human Foosball, a parade of hearses and a frozen salmon toss. It all takes place amid an incredible free music festival featuring Colorado’s most talented acts in an “eccentric cross between morbid and hilarious that permeates the weekend’s atmosphere.”

Filmmakers Andrew Turk, Justin Smouse and A.J. Wager documented “the awesomeness of the 2015 Frozen Dead Guy Days festival“.