In various cultures around the world, people often visit revered graves to perform annual rituals intended to honor and seek blessings from the deceased, a practice known as “Moulids” in the Arab world. However, Western traditions view such practices differently. They often treat them as mere entertainment festivals, such as the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival, held annually in Nederland, Colorado. This unique event celebrates the memory of an individual who passed away in the late 1980s and was cryogenically frozen. The festival features a variety of sports competitions and live music over a three-day period.
The origins of the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival trace back to Norway in 1989, when Bredo Morstøl, known as “Grandpa,” passed away from heart disease. Instead of burying him, his grandson, Trigve Bjad, transported his body to the “Trans Time Cryonics” facility in Oakland, California, where he was frozen in liquid nitrogen for nearly four years. Both Trigve and his mother, Odd Morstøl, were strong proponents of cryonics, hoping to eventually revive the deceased. They planned to establish their own cryonics facility one day. During the time Grandpa was preserved in California, Trigve built his own cooling facility in Nederland, designed to withstand all types of disasters, natural or man-made. In 1993, Grandpa was moved to this facility.
For several years, everything went smoothly, with Grandpa remaining frozen inside his coffin, wrapped in foam and blankets. However, Trigve, not being an American citizen, was deported back to Norway. Shortly after, his mother’s visa was about to expire as well, and she too faced deportation. Fearing the thawing of her father’s body in her absence and unsure about the legality of keeping bodies frozen, she spoke to a local reporter, who then contacted the authorities. They agreed to allow Grandpa Bredo to remain frozen.
With the authorities’ permission, Trigve advertised for a caretaker for Grandpa’s body. One person responded, and starting in 1995, Trigve sent him money bi-weekly to purchase around 750 kilograms of dry ice to keep Grandpa at a constant temperature of -51°C. The responsibility eventually passed to Brad Wickham, who continues to perform the task of transporting dry ice and maintaining Grandpa’s frozen state.
In 2002, the town of Nederland began its annual winter festival, “Frozen Dead Guy Days,” to honor Grandpa, now a notable local figure. Held during the second weekend of March, the festival is a celebration marking the end of winter and the approach of spring’s thaw. It lasts for three days, featuring activities such as the “Brain Freeze Contest,” where participants drink icy beverages as quickly as possible, and the “Frozen T-Shirt Contest,” where contestants wear frozen, solidified T-shirts. Other events include frozen turkey bowling, an ice-cold hand dunking contest, polar plunge races, and coffin races, where teams build and race coffins carrying one of their members. The festival also includes ice sculpting, creative fashion shows, live music, disco dances featuring the “Grandpa Blue Ball,” and tours of Grandpa’s resting place, accompanied by documentary films.
Although participation in the Frozen Dead Guy Days festival is free, there are fees for accessing music tents ($30), VIP tickets for all concerts ($170), coffin race entry ($70), and the polar plunge contest ($20). Due to the festival’s success, Trigve and his mother have filed a lawsuit against the town of Nederland, claiming a share of the festival’s profits since they are the original rights holders. Despite these legal issues, the festival continues to be held annually.
