Frozen Dead Guy Days Guide 2015 by Wideawake Media

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Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Contents Page 3

Memorials

Frozen Dead Guy Days is a production of Butterﬂy Effect Promotions, LLC.

Page 4

Welcome

Page 7

Information

Butterﬂy Effect Promotions would like to acknowledge and thank the Town of Nederland employees, the Nederland Police and Fire personnel, and its wonderfully unique community for their help and support with this event.

Pages 9-12 Pages 15

A Frozen History Blue Ball

Page 19-22

Events Schedules

Pages 23-24

Music Showcase

Pages 26-30

First Frozen Festival

Pages 33-34

Funeral Trivia

Page 37

A Special Thanks to those who have given so much of their personal time and energy: Bruce Lish, James Hultgren, Sarah Stillman, Sarah Martin, Michael Ruiz, Kallista Alli, Kate Gennelly, Bob & Billy “Mac”, Dave Norris, Katrina Harms, Jeff Smith, Matt Johnson, Tim Dillon, Larry Higgins, Teresa Warren, Victoria Slominski, Jennifer Davis, Andrew Lauer, Jay Rizzi, Michael Foster, JimMcVey, Teresa Warren, Mike Leland, Ron Mitchell, LauraJane Baur, Deb DAndrea, Mike Collins, “Norm”

FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE

Craft Beer

Page 39 Remote Control Exhibition Published & Designed by: Wideawake Media, Inc. Photos: Jeffrey V. Smith, James Dewalt, Barbara Lawlor

is available: FRIDAY-SUNDAY • ReAnimate Yourself Tent • Grandpa’s Gift Shop in Tuff Shed #2 on First St. & Nederland Visitor Center SATURDAY-SUNDAY • BrainFreezer Tent

Contributing Writers: Teresa Crush-Warren, Gail Rubin

Merchandise is also available online at www.frozendeadguydays.org/store

Memorials Matthew Justin McGahee

Dave “Bigfoot” Felkley

September 18, 1989 – March 29, 2014

September 11, 1939 – November 15, 2014

It’s funny that we have this festival in honor of a guy who many of us never met. His legacy stems from what happened after he died. This year I am going to dedicate my Frozen Dead Guy Days festival to another guy. But this guy’s legacy is important because of who he was before he died. Matthew McGahee was a three-time Frozen Dead Guy Days VIP. He was such a class act and made being cool seem effortless. His dimpled smile could light up any room and it did. He had wicked dance moves and a great sense of style. His love for those around him was palpable. This festival is his. Matthew set the bar for being a great human and I am happy to celebrate this year with his friends and family. We love you Matthew and we miss you! – Sarah Stillman, FDGD VIP Coordinator

David George Felkley, co-creator and well-known announcer of Frozen Dead Guy Days, died peacefully at his son’s home in Boulder County in November after a long battle with cancer. The long-time Nederland resident, also known as “Bigfoot,” will be fondly remembered as a great teacher and guide. Over the last 15 years Dave “Bigfoot” Felkley spent many days at Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center. He pushed me every spring to choose the hikes he would be going on with the children in the summer camp… and snowshoe hikes in winter. I knew not to question his choices. I learned so much from Dave, and I am forever grateful for the gifts he gave to me and to Wild Bear. I will hold those gifts dear to my heart forever and ever. We hope to continue his legacy of pushing people to experience the beauty of nature using their own two feet! – Jill Dreves, Ex. Director WBMEC

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Welcome

rozen Dead Guy Days staff and volunteers welcome you to one of America’s most quirky, frozen festivals. We hope you enjoy the festivities and take part in the exhilarating events. It’s the people who participate that make our event what it is.

elcome, life enthusiasts, to the 14th annual Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, one of the most unique and coolest towns in Colorado. I hope you enjoy your time here, taking in raw beauty of the mountains, eclectic charm of Nederland and off-the-wall antics of Frozen Dead Guy Days. Although not for the faint of heart, the event is a ton of frosty fun! The creative, fun loving spirits who conceived FDGD, took on the harsh winter of Nederland and turned it into a reason to celebrate. It was designed by the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce to introduce people to the town, give it an economic boost during one of its slowest months and make light of the

fact it has a frozen, dead resident. What makes the festival unique are those who participate, not just watch. It is the plungers, cofﬁn racers, frozen Tshirters, brain freezers, icy turkey bowlers, salmon tossers, snowy volleyballers, dancers and cheerers. It is the town’s residents who take on the challenges of the crowds with a welcoming smile. I think it’s a pretty awesome festival and I think Nederland is a pretty special place for hosting it. Please respect the community while you’re here, smile, put trash in proper containers, park in designated areas and tip your servers. — Amanda MacDonald, Festival Director

Enjoy Nederland! Our town is a place like no other. Tucked in the Rocky Mountains just west of Boulder, Nederland has a history rich in mining and music and a future as the hub of the Peak to Peak Community. With our unique shops, amazing outdoor beauty, friendly locals, and vibrant music scene, Nederland is definitely not your average small town. Whether you live here, work here, or play here, we’re sure that you’ll discover that life’s better up here. While in town, visit some of our unique restaurants and shops.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Information

rozen Dead Guy Days is an off-the-wall festival, but it doesn’t mean you have to be. Please obey local laws, be mindful of people around you and respectful to Nederland residents who allow this unique event to take place in their community!

FESTIVAL HOURS Friday: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Blue Ball) Saturday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. DRIVING DIRECTIONS BOULDER: Take Hwy. 119 (Canyon Bvld.) 17 miles west to Nederland. Follow signs to parking and events. DENVER: Take Hwy. 36 (Boulder Turnpike) to Boulder. Turn west on Hwy. 119 (Canyon Boulevard), continue up Boulder Canyon to Nederland and follow signs to parking and events. INTERSTATE 70: Take Exit 243 (Central City Pkwy) or Exit 244 (U.S. 6) to Hwy. 119 and turn north to Nederland. Follow signs to parking and events. ALTERNATE ROUTES Alternate routs to Nederland from Denver include Hwy. 72 (Coal Creek Canyon) and Hwy. 42 (Golden Gate Canyon), both accessible from Hwy. 93 north of Golden. PARKING & TRANSPORTATION Nederland is a small town and parking gets tight. Please help by carpooling or taking RTD’s N Bus from downtown Boulder to Nederland. Free parking is available at the Justice Center at 6th and Canyon with a bus stop across Canyon Blvd.

Bus To Show, a non-proﬁt dedicated to reducing intoxicated driving, will be taking paid riders from Boulder and Denver on Friday and Saturday. For more information or to book a spot, visit bustoshow.org. Please be mindful when parking and DO NOT park in front of driveways or in other “No Parking” areas or you WILL be ticketed. Park once to reduce congestion—you can easily walk everywhere. DOGS Dogs are not allowed at Frozen Dead Guy Days events. It is a crowded, loud and chaotic festival. If you must bring your dog to Nederland, remember: • Dogs are NOT ALLOWED in the tents or event areas. • Dogs must be on leash AT ALL TIMES. • Dogs tied up outside tents, shops and restaurants without an owner are considered “at large” and may be ticketed. • You must pick up after your dog! ALCOHOL Open containers of alcohol are not allowed anywhere within town limits. Outside alcohol is not allowed inside the ReAnimate Yourself or BrainFreezer tents where alcohol is served. You must be 21—and show proof of age—to receive a wristband to purchase and consume drinks in festival tents

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

where alcohol is served. Beer tickets will be sold outside the tent areas, servers will not take cash for beer. You will be told by Security or Police to dispose of alcohol when being consumed in public areas, including streets and neighborhoods. WEATHER The weather in Nederland may be sunny or overcast, warm or freezing, calm or windy or everything in between, even on the same day. It is often much colder with different conditions than the metro area. Please check the weather before coming to the event and be prepared for the worst conditions, with options for the best. Comfortable, weather-proof shoes and layers are highly recommended. ATM ATM machines are located in the festival tents and several locations around Nederland, including Centennial Bank, outside the Visitor Center, B&F Market, Kwik Mart, Pioneer Inn, Whistler’s Cafe and other businesses. FORGET SOMETIHNG? Nederland’s Mountain Man Outdoor Store, Ace Hardware, Business Connection and B&F Market offer most any items you may have forgotten, from hats and gloves to photo cards and power bars.

A Frozen History

elebrating its 14th year in 2015, Nederland’s Frozen Dead Guy Days is known as one of the most unique and quirky festivals in the country and continues to be a world-renowned spectacle. Either way, it’s a great deal of fun for those who get to attend.

housands of active, fun-loving, winter enthusiasts come annually to participate in and view the eccentric Frozen Dead Guy Days events along with local, national and international media. For more than 25 years, Bredo Morstøl, known as “Grandpa” or “The Frozen Dead Guy,” has taken up residence in a TUFF SHED where he remains in a state of “suspended animation” above the mountain town of Nederland. Grandpa is frozen at a steady negative 60 degrees Fahrenheit and is awaiting the science necessary to bring him back. The story of how Bredo ended up in a TUFF SHED in Colorado is a bit strange. It starts in Norway, moves on to California and continues in Colorado. It involves cryonics, deportation, ice delivery, psychics and celebrations. The tale captured international attention and has sparked the popular annual event known as Frozen Dead Guy Days. LIFE AFTER DEATH Morstøl lived his entire life in Norway, where he enjoyed a comfortable existence as Director of Parks and Recreation in Baerum County for more than 30 years. He loved painting, ﬁshing, skiing, and hiking in the mountains of his homeland. It’s after he died from a heart condition

while cross-country skiing in 1989 that in a subdivision of Nederland, was to things began to get interesting. His be earthquake-, bomb-, fire-, wind- and daughter Aud Morstøl and her son Trygve flood-proof. Aud and Trygve moved Bauge, who was a strong advocate for Bredo and another unrelated man from cryonics— low-temperature preservation Chicago to Nederland and put them on of humans who can’t be sustained by dry-ice in a shed behind the home he was medicine, with the hope that healing building and they were living in. and resuscitation During this time, may be possible in Trygve became well the future—packed known in the area Bredo in dry ice, for his theories on prepared the body for prolonging life by international travel bathing in ice and and shipped him to the founding the Boulder Trans Time Cryonics Polar Club, whose Facility in Oakland, members still jump Calif. Bredo’s body in Boulder Reservoir was placed in liquid on New Year’s Day nitrogen for almost annually. He even four years while . set a world record for Trygve searched for sitting in ice water a proper place to keep for over an hour. He “Grandpa” Bredo Morstøl’s TUFF SHED his Grandfather. was also arrested at home in Nederland. Trygve had come Denver’s Stapleton to the United States almost a decade earlier Airport after joking he was going to to escape nuclear war. The long-haired and hijack a plane. bearded Norweigian was filled with several interesting ideas and liked to poke fun at GRANDFATHER CLAUSE After letting his visa run out and refusing authority when possible. In 1993, Aud came to the U.S. to to renew it, Trygve was eventually deported help her son build his dream home. The back to Norway in 1994. He qualified for home, which ended up being located Continued on page 10

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

A Frozen History

The Cofﬁn Races have been a popular part of Frozen Dead Guy Days since its inception.

Continued from page 9 amnesty, but refused to file the paperwork on principal. Aud was suddenly left alone in an unfinished house and the responsibility to care for her father’s frozen body. It wasn’t long before Aud got an eviction notice from the town for living in a house with no electricity or plumbing. Desperate, she approached a Nederland MountainEar newspaper reporter in search of help, afraid her father’s body may thaw if she is kicked out. This alerted the town’s clerk, mayor and police officers, who quickly went to the scene of what was basically a dead body. In less than a day, the news became an international story. Aud was quickly told she couldn’t keep dead bodies on her property at an emergency town meeting. When it was discovered there was no law against the practice, an emergency ordinance was passed making it a “nuisance” to keep “whole or any part of the person, body or carcass of a human being or animal or other biological species which is not alive” on private property.

Because the bodies at Aud’s house were already in place at the time the law was passed, they were “grandfathered” in and allowed to stay. The Chicago man, however, was returned to family once they discovered his body was in Nederland following news reports about the incident. “Grandpa” Bredo remains to this day, even after Aud was eventually deported. THE ‘ICE MAN’ Now that Bredo was alone in his shed and no one to care for him, Aud and Trygve posted an ad on the internet in 1995 for a one-of-a-kind job. Bo Shaffer of Delta Tech noticed the ad, applied and got the job. Shaffer came to be known as the “Ice Man” since twice a month, Shaffer delivered 1,600 pounds of dry ice and packed it around Grandpa in his TUFF SHED tomb, surrounded by foam padding, a tarp, and blankets. For 18 years, Shaffer kept Grandpa between -60 and -100 degrees Fahrenheit, kept records and gave tours to investigators, inquisitive ﬁlmmakers and sightseers. He

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

went on to write a book, Colorado’s Ice Man and the Story of the Frozen Dead Guy, where he explains the body is cold, but probably not as cold as it should be. He said the body was plus 14 degrees the ﬁrst day he arrived at the TUFF SHED. Shaffer was motived to do a good job for his client and took care of Bredo, the property, bills, record keeping and more. He explains in his book that he continued to do the job because everyone had invested so much time into the project “it would be a shame to make a little screw up and have it all be for nothing.” While on the job, Shaffer even assisted psychics who have wanted to converse with Bredo. One account claims “Grandpa” is amused by the fuss and doing ﬁne, but another more recent visit revealed he is quiet and perhaps has moved on. Shaffer eventually gave up the job in 2012 after a dispute with Trygve, although the “Ice Man” can still be seen at the yearly Frozen Dead Guy Days. NEW CARETAKERS In October 2012, news spread that the unique job was again available. Jane Curtis Gazit of Keep Magnolia Clean was Continued on page 12

Brad Wickham, with the sarcophagus in the TUFF SHED, ensures “Grandpa” Bredo stays on ice and takes care of Bauge’s property.

brain freeze contest, human foosball, a parade of hearses and frozen salmon toss. It all takes place amid a three-day music showcase featuring some of Colorado’s most talented acts in an “eccentric cross between morbid and hilarious that permeates the weekend’s atmosphere.” Nederland thrives on the colorful, the offbeat, and the weird. Frozen Dead Guy Days, coined “Cryonics’ first Mardi Gras” by Trygve, is a fitting way to end the short days of winter and head into the melting snows of spring. Frozen Dead Guy Days brings a new burst of life with creative contests like the Frozen T-shirt and Brain Freeze and events including coffin races, a polar plunge and a frozen salmon toss. Each March, people travel from around the world to experience Grandpa’s legacy.

A Frozen History Continued from page 10 hired to take care of “Grandpa.” As of 2014, ice delivery is being handled by Brad Wickham, who recently retreated to Nederland to get away from the stress of his 20+ year career in healthcare. Now semi-retired, he makes extra cash by taking care of Bredo. He is paid by the family to be a local caretaker for the property, plowing the driveway and making sure the house and shed are left undisturbed. He also takes phone calls from reporters and answers questions. IT’S A DEAD MAN’S PARTY By 2002, Nederland’s residents had embraced the town’s fame as the place with the “Frozen Dead Guy” and its Chamber of Commerce decided to use the notoriety to their advantage. The group ultimately created the foundation for what Frozen Dead Guy Days is today. Read more about the how the ﬁrst festival came together on page 26 of this guide. Colorado’s “most frigidly fun festival” features outrageous events like the cofﬁn races, costumed polar plunge, ice turkey bowling, frozen T-shirt contest,

OVER 25 YEARS ON ICE This year marks Grandpa’s 26th year on ice and the festival’s 14th year in celebration of this unique situation. Frozen Dead Guy Days has received media coverage locally and worldwide. It was named by the Chicago Tribune as one the country’s “Top 100 Festivals Not to be Missed.” Video footage of Frozen

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Dead Guy Days has graced the networks on many broadcasts including Bill Geist’s segment on “The CBS Sunday Morning Show,” CNN, ABC News, “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” PBS, the Game Show Network and a Belgian reality show. In 2014, a Japanese variety show ﬁlmed an episode during the event. The festival has also been “immortalized” by two award-winning documentaries, Grandpa’s In The TUFF SHED and the follow-up Grandpa’s Still In The TUFF SHED by the Beeck sisters and in Shaffer’s book. The event also won the Colorado Governor’s Award for “best promotional event” in 2010 and was featured in the New York Times. In addition to more than a decade of coverage around the world (including TV shows from Belgium, Canada and Russia), Frozen Dead Guy Days was named one of the “Top 5” winter festivals in the country by Readers Digest, has graced the pages magazines and papers worldwide and made the “Top 10” list of Lonely Planet and Hotels.com’s “Must-Sees In 2012.” CNN has the event listed as one of the best costumed festivals in the country and the story of Grandpa Bredo was featured on the Travel Channel’s Monumental Mysteries.

Blue Ball

Dead Floyd

he ReAnimate Yourself Tent in Chipeta Park hosts the annual Blue Ball on Friday, March 13 featuring a night of dancing, live music, spirits and celebration with a “Superstition” theme. The ticketed event features craft beer, a distilled spirits bar, the famous Ice Queen and Grandpa Look-alike Contest, Grandpa’s Gift Shop, delicious food vendors and more.

By Bruce Lish Music Showcase Coordinator n 2014, several of us held our collective breaths when the much-anticipated Blue Ball—the Friday night festival kick-off party and home to the notorious costume contests—was moved to the ReAnimate Yourself Tent in Chipeta Park along with a new start time of 5 p.m. The new event ended at 10 p.m. as music in local venues got cranking. It was a huge, fun success and we’re gonna do it again! The bands and crowds were great, and so was the vibe. Even with a couple of glitches and a few lessons learned, feedback from our ﬁrst night in the big tent in the park was overwhelmingly positive—and we’re

eagerly anticipating the 2015 Blue Ball These guys killed it on Saturday afternoon on Friday, March 13. The Ball begins at last year and we hope you agree they’re an ideal ﬁt this year on 5 p.m. with local bluegrass Friday the 13th. favorites The Pine Dwellers. “The costume contest to The “meat in the middle” end all costume contests”— of the Blue Ball’s musical the annual Grandpa Bredo sandwich is the Gasoline Look-alike and Ice Queen Lollipops, another great competitions—will be held example of the musical during the Blue Ball. The depth and diversity bursting contest begins at 8 p.m. out of our region. The and winners—who get a Gas Pops are getting more Carhartt “tuxedo” from popular by the day, and we Special effects artist Melinda Mountain Man Outdoor count ourselves among the Wolfe will work her make-up Store—are announced at fortunate to be able to hear magic at the Blue Ball. the end of the evening. them in our intimate setting. Headlining the Blue Ball this year Invitations state: “Arrive at ﬁve, and is Dead Floyd, whose name says it all. arrive…!!”

ReAnimate Yourself Tent

(Chipeta Park)

Tickets: $10 (Advance tickets available at www.frozendeadguydays.org)

5-6pm: The Pine Dwellers

Grown in the trees, grasses and funky roots near Nederland, the band plays “Grassroots Mountain Funk” with elements of bluegrass, Western, funk, jazz, improvisation, Latin, hip-hop and more.

6:30-8pm: Gasoline Lollipops 8:30-10pm: Dead Floyd Gasoline Lollipops’ unique sound combines the sincerity of dirt-ﬂoor folk with the energy and rebelliousness of the punk era. It’s an all-new incarnation of alt-country that’s high energy and heartfelt.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Fort Collins’ Dead Floyd is a celebration of the music of two of rock and roll’s greatest bands, the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd, mashed together into one high-energy, unpredictable show.

Events & Schedules

Saturday, March 14

ll event participants MUST sign a waiver and be wearing a proof-of-waiver wrist band. Sign a waiver and pick up a wrist band at the Teen Center, 151 East Street, from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, or at the event. Frozen Dead Guy Days is even more fun when taking part in the events.

Cofﬁn Racing

Parade of Hearses

Saturday, March 14 Chipeta Park • 2-3:30PM

Saturday, March 14 First Street • NOON

Entry fee: free The annual Parade of Hearses—which also includes a procession of cofﬁn race teams, sponsors and non-proftis— begins at the Nederland Teen Center and proceeds up First Street to the west. Spectators may line-up along First Street to view the spectacle and cheer on their favorite race teams. Parade participants must check-in and line-up at the Teen Center.

Costume Polar Plunge

Saturday, March 14 Chipeta Park • 1-2PM Entry fee: $20

PORTION OF PROCEEDS GO TO NEDERLAND FIREWORKS FUND

Those craving the “full frozen experience” can jump into the icy-cold pond waters at Chipeta Park. A changing and warming tent, sponsored by Flexx Tent, and towels are available once you’ve chilled your bones. No running, no diving and no nudity. Costumes are encouraged, but stay away from materials that will become heavy in water.

Entry fee: $70 per team The object of the Coffin Race is to slide, roll, drag or carry a coffin through an obstacle course to the finish. Six pallbearers (team members) carry the coffin with a rider inside through the obstacle course. Finish times will be determined when the last team member has crossed the finish line. The top four teams race in the quarter finals with the top two racing for first and second place. First place takes home $300, second place gets $200 and third place win $100. A special award will be presented for the best FDGD spirit. • Coffins can be constructed of any materials. Tops are not required and are discouraged • ALL team members must be wearing a helmet at all times during entire race or risk elimination • No metal cleats or cramp-ons are allowed. Plastic cleats are acceptable • Race numbers must be displayed on your coffin rider • Good sportsperson-like conduct is required. Any acts deemed unsportsperson-like may disqualify the entire team from the race • Team members who are obviously intoxicated will not be allowed to participate • Costumes are highly encouraged Complete rules/registration: www.frozendeadguydays.org

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Festival Events

Sunday, March 15

Saturday-Sunday, March 14-15

ll event participants MUST sign a waiver and be wearing a proof-of-waiver wrist band. Sign a waiver and pick up a wrist band at the Teen Center from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, or at the event.

Brain Freeze Contest

Saturday, 3/14 • 3-4pm & Sunday, 3/15 • 2-3pm BrainFreezer Tent on First Street

Entry fee: $5 Participants go head-to-head downing frozen drinks in a race for fun prizes. The ﬁrst to ﬁnish wins. • All the frozen beverage must end up in the participant’s mouth to win • Hands to yourself and you must remain seated during contest

Glass Werx Icy Turkey Bowling

Saturday, 3/14 • 3-5pm & Sunday, 3/15 • 1-3pm In front of the BrainFreezer Tent on First Street

Entry fee: $5 Pins are the target, fowl the ball… more speciﬁcally a frozen turkey. Each bowler gets three rolls to knock down as many pins as possible - high score is 18. • Icy Turkey can be rolled, thrown, heaved, tossed or ﬂung past the pins as long as the bowler is behind the throw line when the bird leaves his/her hand

Pioneer Inn Frozen T-Shirt Contest Saturday, 3/14 • 1pm, 5pm & Sunday, 3/15 at 1pm Pioneer Inn (15 E. First Street)

Saturday, 3/14 • 5-6pm & Sunday, 3/15 • 3-4pm First Street Soap Box

Entry fee: free Saturday, bring poems or odes to Grandpa for open readings. Sunday, Love Shovel Ranch presents Dead Poetry Slam with poets portraying historical ﬁgures in a competitive context. Be a judge!

‘Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed’ ﬁlm

Saturday, 3/14 & Sunday, 3/15 • 11am-4pm Black Forest Restaurant (4 Big Springs Drive)

Entry fee: $10 Sign up to slip into something frozen at the Pioneer Inn located on First Street in Nederland. Contestants race to don frozen t-shirts, using only the ground and their bodies. The solidly frozen and folded T-shirts can prove to be quite worthy opponents. • Cash prizes for male and female winners

Entry fee: free Watch the awardwinning Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed short ﬁlm made by Kathy and Robin Beeck. Shows approximately every 30 minutes.

Frozen Salmon Toss

Ice Carving

Entry fee: $5 Created by Sundance Café owner Hillary Stevenson and modeled after Seattle Fish Market. Frozen salmon are provided and contestants throw them for distance. • Farthest ﬂung ﬁsh wins the prize • Come by anytime during event; participate early before the salmon “swims upstream”

Entry fee: free Watch talented stone and wood artist Bongo Love carve original sculptures from blocks of ice.

Sunday, 3/15 • 11am-2pm Sundance Café (23942 Hwy. 119)

Snowy Human Foosball

Sunday, 3/15 • 11am-3pm Off First Street near Nederland Community Garden

Entry fee: $30/team It’s just like foosball, but with real people... in the snow. • Speed tournament, first come, first serve • Spectacular prizes • Proceeds benefit Nederland Fireworks and Many Arms Around Miles.

Frozen Dead Poets Society

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Sunday, 3/15 • 1-3pm Chipeta Park

Rocky Mountain Oyster Eating Contest Sunday, 3/15 • 3pm First Street Pub & Grill

Entry fee: $5 Race to eat as many Rocky Mountain oysters as possible.

Nightlife FRIDAY • 10pm-2am • Black Forest (24 Big Springs Dr.): Magic Beans • First Street Pub & Grill (35 E. 1st St.): Karaoke • Kathmandu Rest. (110 N. Jefferson St.): The CBDs • Pioneer Inn (15 E. 1st St.) Evergreen Grass Band • Stage Stop (Rollinsville): Members of Mountain Standard Time – Free shuttle

FRIDAY • 10pm-2am • Whistlers Café 121 S. Jefferson St.): Malai Llama

COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO Tuff Shed #2 on First Street, Live broadcast all weekend

Friday

SATURDAY • 10pm-2am

Grandpa’s Pub Crawl

Live music at local bars and restaurants including: • First Street Pub & Grill: ONDA • Pioneer Inn: The Symbols • Stage Stop: Shakedown Street, Dragondeer – Free shuttle from Nederland • Whistlers Café: Galaxy Agent (members of Mtn. Standard Time, The Grant Farm and Jet Edison)

8-11AM MARCH 14: FDGD PANCAKE BREAKFAST Community Center, All-you-can-eat pancakes eggs, sausage, coffee and juice – $7 adults, $5 seniors and $4 under 12

NOON-4PM MARCH 14: OLD FASHIONED RING TOSS Carousel of Happiness, 3 rings for $3

Saturday

FDGD MERCHANDISE

3-6PM

Tiny Disco

Tuff Shed Off Second St. Put a little boogie in your butt!

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Festival Merchandise is available: FRIDAY-SUNDAY • ReAnimate Yourself Tent • Grandpa’s Gift Shop in Tuff Shed #2 on First St. • Grandpa’s Gift Shop at the Visitor Center SATURDAY-SUNDAY • BrainFreezer Tent Merchandise is also available online at www.frozendeadguy days.org/store

Friday, 3/13

Schedule of Events 5-10PM F Blue Ball • $10

ReAnimate Yourself Beer Tent (Chipeta Park) Annual Blue Ball with a “Superstition” theme featuring live music by Dead Floyd, Gasoline Lollipops and The Pine Dwellers. Ice Queen and Grandpa look-alike contest at 8 p.m. Prizes include a “Carhartt tuxedo” from Mountain Man Outdoor. • Microbrew beer from Oskar Blues

• Distilled Spirits Bar with specialty Corpse Reviver & Grandpa’s Spirit drinks • Grandpa’s Gift Shop • Food Vendors Sponsored by Oskar Blues

6pm F Opening Ceremony Hwy. 119/72 Roundabout Open Frozen Dead Guy Days at the Nederland

roundabout with the lighting of the center piece

followed by a Steampunk procession to the Blue Ball in Chipeta Park.

10pm F Live Music Various Locations (see page 19) Live bands perform in several area restaurants and bars throughout Nederland and Rollinsville (which can be reached by free shuttle).

J = Waiver must be signed to participate

Saturday, March 14

ANY EVENTS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER ON SATURDAY WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT THE SAME TIME ON SUNDAY 8am-11am F FDGD Pancake Breakfast Community Center (Half-mile North on Hwy. 72, or take the path up Jefferson St.) Pancakes and more! Eggs and sausage, coffee and juice and all you can eat pancakes. • $7 Adult, $5 Senior, $4 Under 12 Sponsored by and supporting Nederland Area Seniors 9am-11am F Event Day Registration F Waiver Wristband Pick Up F Parade Line Up Teen Center (East end of First Street) ALL event participants MUST sign a waiver and get a waiver wristband. If participating in any event, this is the best place to get everything in advance. • Register for Polar Plunge, Coﬃn Races, Parade Contest • Lineup for the parade 10:30am-5pm F Open House with Turkey Vultures Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center (Caribou Shopping Center) • free Enjoy an open house featuring Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (formal presentation at 3:30 p.m.) with vultures, spiders, scorpions and cockroaches. 11am-8:30pm F BrainFreezer Tent First Street • $5 suggested donation • Craft beer from Epic, Grimm Brothers and Groβen Bart breweries • St. Grampy’s Day Bar serving festive, fun spirited drinks • Free Live Music (see music schedule) • Grandpa’s Gift Shop and food vendors Sponsored by Epic, Grimm Brothers and Groβen Bart 11am- 8:30pm F Grandpa’s Mall Crawl First Street Nederland’s First Street, east of the Visitor Center, is transformed into a pedestrian mall for revelers to enjoy the BrainFreezer Tent, street performers, participate in contests and more.

11am-8:30pm F ReAnimate Yourself Tent Chipeta Park • $5 suggested donation • Microbrew beer from Oskar Blues • St. Grampy’s Day Bar serving festive, fun spirited drinks • Live Music (see music schedule) • Grandpa’s Gift Shop • Food Vendors Sponsored by Oskar Blues 11am-4pm F ‘Grandpa’s in the TUFF SHED’ Film F ‘Iceman’ Bo Shaffer Book Signing F Poetry From Beyond Black Forest Restaurant • free • View “Grandpa’s in the TUFF SHED” documentary (approx. every 30 minutes) • Learn Dead Guy history from “Iceman” Bo Shaffer who kept Grandpa on ice 17 years • Channel a loved one through a poem or get an intuitive personal one with Louise Moriarty Noon F Parade of Hearses First Street • free The parade begins at the Teen Center and goes west. Line the sides of the street for the best viewing. • Parade participants must check in and lineup at the Teen Center. NOON-4pm F Old Fashioned Ring Toss Carousel of Happiness • $3 for three rings • Prizes for one, two or three rings 3-6pm F Tiny Disco TUFF SHED oﬀ 2nd Street • free Put a little boogie in your butt at the Tiny Disco. 1-2pm F Costume Polar Plunge J Chipeta Park • $20/each plunge Freeze the Day & Take the Plunge! Jump into the icy-cold pond waters of Chipeta Park. A portion of the proceeds go to the Nederland Fireworks Fund.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

1-3pm F Ice Carving with Bongo Love Chipeta Park • free Bongo Love has been sculpting using stone, clay and wood since he was a child in Africa. 2-3:30pm F Famous Coﬃn Races J Chipeta Park • $70 per team Teams race with a coﬃn and ‘corpse’ through a course full of obstacles, mud, snow, other racers. • CASH PRIZE for best costumed team • Trophies (and more) for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place 3-5pm F Icy Turkey Bowling J Across from BrainFreezer Tent • $5 entry fee Test your poultry bowling skills in this unusual event. You can also BYOFF (bring your own frozen fowl). 3pm-4pm F Brain Freeze Contest J In front of the BrainFreezer Tent • $5 entry fee Contestants race against each other downing ice-cold treats for fabulous prizes. 3pm and 5pm F Pioneer Inn Frozen T-shirt Contest J In front of the Pioneer Inn • $10 entry fee Try and slip into something frozen, faster than everyone else. 5-6pm F Frozen Dead Poet Society Open Readings On soap box on First Street across from BrainFreezer Tent • free Bring poems, musings and Odes to Grandpa for open readings on the soap box on First Street. 6:30pm-1am F Grandpa’s Pub Crawl Various Locations (see page 19)

Live bands perform in several area restaurants and bars throughout Nederland and Rollinsville (which can be reached by free shuttle).

Sunday March 15 J = Waiver must be signed to participate

8am-11am F FDGD Pancake Breakfast Community Center (Half-mile North on Hwy. 72, or take the path up Jefferson St.) Pancakes and more! Eggs and sausage, coffee and juice and all you can eat pancakes. Warm your belly for your day outdoors! • $ 7 Adult, $5 Senior, $4 Under 12 Sponsored by and supporting Nederland Area Seniors 9:30am-4pm F Open House with Turkey Vultures Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center • free Enjoy an open house featuring Rocky Mountain Raptor Program (formal presentation at 11 a.m.) with vultures, spiders, scorpions and cockroaches. 11am-2pm F Salmon Toss & Sunday Brunch J Sundance Café (1 mile south of town ) $5 entry fee –Come by anytime! • F arthest flung fish wins the prize • B runch and drink specials 11am-7pm F BrainFreezer Tent First Street • $5 suggested donation • Microbrew beer from Epic, Grimm Brothers and Groβen Bart breweries • St. Grampy’s Day Bar serving festive, fun spirited drinks • Free Live Music (see music schedule) • Grandpa’s Gift Shop and Food Vendors Sponsored by Epic Brewing, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse and Groβen Bart Brewing 11am-6pm F Grandpa’s Mall Crawl First Street Nederland’s First Street, east of the Visitor Center, is transformed into a pedestrian mall for revelers to enjoy music in the BrainFreezer Tent, street performers and participate in Brain Freezer, Frozen T-shirt and Icy Turkey Bowling contests and more. 11am-7pm F ReAnimate Yourself Tent Chipeta Park • $5 suggested donation • Microbrew beer from Oskar Blues • S t. Grampy’s Day Bar serving festive, fun spirited drinks • Live Music (see music schedule) • Grandpa’s Gift Shop • Food Vendors Sponsored by Oskar Blues 11am-3pm F Snowy Human Foosball J Off First Street by Community Garden $30 per team Like foosball, but with real people. Entry Fees to be donated to Nederland Fireworks and Many Arms Around Miles. • Spectacular prizes for winning teams

11am-4pm F ‘Grandpa’s in the TUFF SHED’ Film F ‘Iceman’ Bo Shaffer Book Signing F Poetry From Beyond Black Forest Restaurant • free • View “Grandpa’s in the TUFF SHED” documentary (shown approximately every 30 minutes) • Learn Dead Guy history from “Iceman” Bo Shaffer who kept Grandpa on ice 17 years • Channel a loved one through a poem or get an intuitive personal one with Louise Moriarty 1pm F Pioneer Inn Frozen T-shirt Contest J In front of the Pioneer Inn • $10 entry fee Slip into something frozen, faster than everyone else. 1pm F Beard & Mustache Competition Brain Freezer Tent • free Strut your frosty facial hair for fabulous prizes.

2pm F Frozen Remote Control Vehicle Exhibition Chipeta Park • free See an exciting demo of all-terrain, RC vehicles outside the ReAnimate Yourself Tent 2-3pm F Brain Freeze Contest J In front of the BrainFreezer Tent on First Street • $5 entry fee Contestants race against each other downing ice cold treats for fabulous prizes. 3pm F Rocky Mountain Oyster Eating Contest J First Street Pub & Grill (35 E. First St.) $5 entry fee Race to eat as many Rocky Mountain oysters as you can.

1-3pm F Snow Sculpting with Bongo Love Chipeta Park • free Bongo Love has been sculpting using stone, clay and wood since he was a child in Africa.

3-4PM F Frozen Dead Poet Slam On soap box on First Street across from BrainFreezer Tent • free Entrants slam their fondest dead poet for whiskey and prizes.

1-3pm F Icy Turkey Bowling J Across from BrainFreezer Tent • $5 entry fee Test your poultry bowling skills. You can also BYOFF (bring your own frozen fowl).

4pm F Remote Control Jumping Contest Chipeta Park • free • See an exciting jumping competition between all-terrain, remote-controlled vehicles.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Sunday

ANY EVENTS CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER ON SATURDAY WILL BE RESCHEDULED AT THE SAME TIME ON SUNDAY

FDGD MERCHANDISE

Festival Merchandise is available: FRIDAY-SUNDAY • ReAnimate Yourself Tent • Grandpa’s Gift Shop in Tuff Shed on First St. • Grandpa’s Gift Shop at the Visitor Center SATURDAY-SUNDAY • BrainFreezer Tent Merchandise is also available online at www.frozendeadguy days.org/store

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Music Showcase

rozen Dead Guy Days isn’t just an off-the-wall festival, it also features a three-day music showcase of some of the best local bands with a few more from across the state. The festival tents offer something for anyone’s music tastes.

By Bruce Lish, FDGD Music Showcase Coordinator

t is again my pleasure to help present the Frozen Dead Guy Days Music Showcase, which, slowly but surely, has helped the weekend continue to carve out a unique niche in an exploding national— and international—festival scene. The Music Showcase again features a sampling of the Nederland area’s many talented musicians of all ages, a selection of acts from around the Front Range

and a few special guests from farther away. Music listeners around the region are blessed to have such an impressive variety and number of accomplished players to hear regularly, it’s our honor to bring some of them to our stages. Musical acts returning in 2015, include Dead Floyd, ONDA, Caribou Mountain Collective, Rocktin’ Grove, Highway 50, Gipsy Moon and Jelly Bread. We are also pleased to feature hand-picked acts appearing at FDGD for the ﬁrst time, including White Fudge, Gasoline

Lollipops, Strange Americans, Malai Llama, Coral Creek and Galaxy Agent. As Frozen Dead Guy Days continues to evolve, providing a variety of high-level entertainment for one of the cheapest prices in the world—at a time when cabin interiors have begun to look a bit too familiar and spring is around a long and winding corner—all of us involved in bringing you the Music Showcase and festival would like to thank you very much for your support. We hope you have a very enjoyable and safe weekend!

Saturday, March 14 ReAnimate Yourself Tent (Chipeta Park) BrainFreezer Tent (First Street in downtown Nederland) 11:30AM-12:30PM

11AM-NOON

Jon ‘Blackdog’ Ridnell, guitar pillar of the Nederland music scene, along with his highly regarded son Miles on bass, make up this act. It will be a great way to start the day in the park.

Sal Clark on banjo and Allison Weiss on guitar, members of the She Said String Band and the Mile Markers, are the Louder Sisters. We can’t imagine a nicer way to prepare for the parade.

Acoustic New Family Dog

Louder Sisters

1-2:30PM

12:45-2:30PM

Welcome back to the festival Matt Flaherty and friends, bringing a modern mix of funk, rock and jazz, with the added ﬂavor of several decades worth of heady inﬂuences.

These mountain bluegrass aces from the Rollinsville/Nederland area continue to grow their infectious sound and attract more attention and larger crowds. Set begins at end of parade.

Hot Soup

Caribou Mountain Collective

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Music Showcase ReAnimate Yourself Tent (Chipeta Park)

Saturday, March 14 (continued) BrainFreezer Tent (First Street in downtown Nederland)

3-4:30PM

Rocktin’ Grove has played a unique blend of world, folk, soul and funk since 2010. Euphoric builds, rich harmonies, diverse instrumentation and musical versatility are featured.

Al Laughlin, founding member of The Samples, created this band that weaves together reggae, ska, jazz and R&B with Laughlin’s melodic vocals and introspective lyrics.

Rocktin’ Grove

Highway 50

5-6:30PM

The Reno-based band blends a dash of alt-rock with soul and funk, yet is thoroughly steeped in Rock-Americana. The band is “fresh and it doesn’t ﬁt in a box,” Tahoe Onstage says.

It’s the kind of music that Carharttwearing, hard-working, industrial beer-drinking, regular Americans listen to. It’s a little raw, a bit loud, unapologetic and honest.

Jelly Bread

Strange Americans

7-8:30PM

The eight-piece act performs a mix of funk, hip-hop, rock and “party” music. They are said to have “funky, hip-hop brilliance and clever lyrical prowess.”

Galaxy Agent features well-known members of Mountain Standard Time, The Grant Farm and Jet Edison in a very special side project not to missed.

White Fudge

Galaxy Agent

Sunday, March 15 ReAnimate Yourself Tent (Chipeta Park) BrainFreezer Tent (First Street in downtown Nederland)

11:30AM-1PM

This Boulder band has been bringing the music of Bob Dylan to the Front Range since 2006. The act’s set blends iconic songs with hidden gems providing something for everyone.

The festival would not be complete without a classy and classic bluegrass set from Gilpin County’s NoGo Gilbillies featuring a quartet of talented, local pickers.

The Zimmermans

NoGo Gilbillies

1:30AM-3PM

Colorado bluegrass and Americana music featuring original songs by Chris Thompson and Bill McKay and unique renditions of traditional bluegrass tunes and Americana classics.

The dynamic Denver seven-piece features a soulful, funky, classic sound blending decades of rock inﬂuences to deliver a high-energy vibe with emotive vocals and accessible jams.

Coral Creek

Zen Mustache

3:30AM-5PM

Nederland’s Latin dance band brings a very special mountain bluegrass blast to the festival. Roberto Sequeira heads a crew of veterans of the jazz, Afro-Cuban, Latin music scenes.

Featuring top Boulder County players, this act’s four members came together to bring a lighter side of rap. They features fresh beats, funk, and X-rated hip-hop for the masses.

ONDA’s LatinGrass All Stars

Powerlung Rangers

5:30AM-7PM

This ﬁve-piece Nederland “gipsygrass” act is something like a backwoods hoedown meets the smoking basement of a New York jazz club. Help us close the festival in style.

This Rollinsville four-piece instrumental band that combines jazz, rock and electronica into a psychedelic fusion hosts a jam featuring special guests to wrap-up the festival.

Gypsy Moon

Malai Llama

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

First Freeze

Participants enjoy the ﬁrst Frozen Dead Guy Days Cofﬁn Race in 2002

‘Special group’ gives life to first festival By Teresa Crush-Warren Co-Creator of Frozen Dead Guy Days fter much thought and hindsight, I have come to believe there is such a thing as “spontaneous combustion” in humans and that it can manifest itself in the form of a build up of the body’s supposed “vibrational energy.” This behind-the-scenes story of how a small group of people came together with a vision of creating a sustainable winter festival in Nederland—and succeeding beyond their wildest dreams—is an example of this phenomenon. The festival is Frozen Dead Guy Days, which marks its 14th year in 2014.

SPECIAL GROUP Behind every great idea is a special group of people who “spontaneously combust” their “vibrational energy” to give that idea life. Being a part of the special group of people who created Frozen Dead Guy Days, and seeing what we accomplished, is one of my most cherished memories. But, the whole story needs to be told and others who participated in its creation should be recognized. Most people know the idea for a Nederland winter festival started with the local Chamber of Commerce. It’s hard to remember everyone who was on the Board

of Directors at the time, but a handful played a big part in making the festival happen, including President Deb Goldberg, Hughes Moir, Sandi Sandberg, Jonathon Beggs, Dave Felkley and myself. What many people don’t know is that the ﬁrst festival was organized in under six weeks and a lot of details “spontaneously combusted” and fell into place in a short period of time. Board members considered creating an event around the phenomenon that made Nederland different than any other place— our frozen dead guy. We began to plan “frozen” events for the new festival, but were still wrestling with a name.

Local artist Brent Warren suggested to pattern the name after “Mike, the Headless Chicken Days” in Fruita. That festival is based on a true story (there really was a headless chicken that came to fame in the 1940s) and he observed that if Fruita named a festival in this quirky fashion, why couldn’t Nederland. Everyone agreed. We all had experienced the same reaction from people who asked us where we were from: “Isn’t that where that Frozen Dead Guy is?” So, the name was born.

FAMILY BLESSINGS Committed to the new name, we decided it would be a good idea to contact Bredo’s family to get their blessing. No one knew how to get hold NAMING RITES Mountain-Ear, March 14, 2002 of his grandson, Trygve Since the company had donated a shed that houses “Grandpa’s” Bauge, who had been deported from his body, TUFF SHED was at the top of our home in Nederland in 1993 for immigralist of possible sponsors. The company tion violations. We were, however, able to was contacted and we offered to call the track down the person who was paid to festival, “Grandpa’s In The TUFF SHED keep Grandpa’s body on dry ice. I remember being in the ofﬁce of Deb Days.” When they declined, the Chamber had to quickly choose a name, but we still when she picked up the phone to call Bo Shaffer the ﬁrst time. We were both couldn’t see the obvious.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

expecting a cold shoulder, but to our surprise, he was totally receptive to the idea and even offered to conduct tours of Trygve’s house and “Grandpa’s” TUFF SHED. He also said he would contact Trygve to inquire about the family’s approval. The family gave us the green light for the festival and tours, negotiating for a percentage of the tour proceeds to go to “Grandpa’s” upkeep. EVENTS AND T-SHIRTS The event list for that first year’s festival was quite a bit shorter than today. We planned for a pancake breakfast and a Winter Market at the community center, tours of the TUFF SHED and Trygve’s unique house, a parade, coffin races, polar plunge, a Grandpa look-alike contest and Grandpa’s Ball on Saturday. Sunday’s events included “Magnificent Mountain Women” by Janet Robertson, who shared beautiful images of the first female mountain climbers. The festival ended with a showing of the Beeck sisters’ award-winning documentary, Grandpa’s In The TUFF SHED.

It seemed like our “spontaneous combustion” kept firing. Since the Chamber was unsuccessful in finding a major sponsor, board members agreed that money could be made on T-shirts. Warren was called upon, again, for a festival logo and within three days a logo was submitted. This was the first in a series of eight designs created by Warren which always included what came to be called, “Classic Grandpa” and the red orb. We ordered 500 shirts.

First Freeze

Sure enough, phone calls started coming in at record speed. Radio shows like Paul Harvey, CBS, BBC, Radio Free Europe, even a station in Sidney, Australia, wanted interviews as did newspapers from all over the world. I even got a call from the PBS radio show “What Do You Know” telling me host Michael MEDIA FRENZY Feldman wanted me and On the Sunday prior to the Trygve on a live, on-site festival, a front-page Daily broadcast on Saturday Camera article started the morning of the festival. buzz around the festival It turned out to be a very and on Tuesday, I received funny interview. Bauge a call for an interview. I was rambling on and on. thought I heard the reEven Michael had a hard porter say he represented time getting a word in. The Record, which was a Mountain-Ear editorial, Near the end, I was asked nearby local newspaper at March 7, 2002 what events were taking the time, so I gave a stressplace. He thought it funny less, humorous, laid-back interview. At the that Nederland starts every festival with a end, the reporter said Reuters News Service pancake breakfast. I did at least 50 interthanked me. To my amazement, I had just views that week, not counting those done given the interview that would break the by other Chamber board members. news of the festival worldwide. Continued on page 28

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

First Freeze Continued from page 27 OFFICIAL DAY DENIED Also, that week leading up to the festival, Nederland’s State House Representative and local resident Tom Plant, introduced a resolution to declare March 9 as Colorado

The New York Times, March 11, 2002

“Frozen Dead Guy Day.” Although amused, House members did not pass it. Democratic representatives, however, pledged $500 to local Columbine Health Center if he would take plunge, which he did. He was also asked to be a guest that week on PBS’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me.” T-SHIRTS AND ALE The news of the festival was spreading rapidly if press calls were any indication. Deb and I were seriously concerned that the 500 T-shirts were not going to be enough. I remember Peter, Hughes, Deb and myself having a serious discussion about it. Two thought it was a prudent idea, and two not so much. Deb and I took the Fifth and ordered 1,500 more shirts. The president of Oregon-based Rogue Brewery contacted us. He wanted to introduce his company’s new beer, “Dead Guy Ale”—named and bottled for the Mayan Day of the Dead—at the festival. We negotiated a cut of the percentage of sales and it was poured by the Pioneer Inn, Black Forest, Tungsten Grille, Acoustic Coffeehouse, Backcountry Pizza and Dam Liquor. Another “spontaneous combustion” had ignited. TRAFFIC CONCERN One not so pleasant “combustion” happened two days before the event. I got a call from the Captain of the State Highway Patrol in Broomfield. He had been hearing all the press about the festival, causing him to have concerns about traffic jams. He let me know what it would cost if the State Patrol had to come to Nederland to deal with a traffic crisis. He also warned that if he had to call officers that were off to respond to the call, we would have to pay them overtime. I shared the information, but at that point,

we were too overwhelmed to give it serious consideration. After all, weren’t we planning this festival so that it did attract people to Nederland? We decided to take our chances, and the local police said they could handle any trafﬁc crisis. All of this activity happened the week before the festival. If it had not been for all the Board members and our paid Director Peter Rowland working around the clock to iron out details, the event w o u l d have been laughing stock of festivals. We had almost “combusted” so many times, some of us were close to literally setting ourselves on ﬁre.

He also sold small pieces of the original shed with a certificate of authenticity. PERFECT PARADE After eating at the pancake breakfast, I went down to the parade line-up by the Teen Center. So many people showed up to walk or ride including the Denver Hearse Club which had 10-15 antique hearses—another last minute addition to the festival. Rogue Brewery showed up with a float and various sundries to throw out to the audience including hats, Tshirts and, believe it or not, Dead Guy Ale condoms. The parade went off seamlessly with all the coffin race teams and soon-tobe polar plungers looking their best.

INAUGURAL COFFIN RACES After my “What Do You Know?” interview, and an unfortunate mishap with a rented high-tech radio and a port-a-toilet, I made it to the Coffin Races. Peter was running the show and Dave Felkley was on the TRASH PLAN Then came Saturday morning and it was mic. There were at least 15 entries includtime to see how well we had planned. I had ing a team from Nederland Middle/Senior trouble sleeping the night before thinking High School and one from a mortuary in about anything we had forgotten. Suddenly Denver, which was piloted by Dr. Rigor Mortis. With strong I couldn’t rememwinds at their back, ber if we had made each team fearlessly provisions for trash. started the course, but I reset my alarm and many were not able got a few hours sleep. to complete it. The When I arrived in the crowd loved the face morning, the winds dives, the stumbles were blowing hard— and the tight runoffs. 60-70 mile-per-hour The obstacle course gusts—and, Peter was was built by Peter, and already there putting his basic layout and trash containers in rules have been used place. He had a hard ever since. The wintime sleeping, too. ning team that first WINDY TOUR year was Nederland’s I don’t recall it beown “Working Man’s ing extremely cold or Dead,” with a time of there being a lot of 47 seconds. The $200 snow, but Saturday cash prize was shared was a seriously W-I- Mountain-Ear, March 7, 2002 among team members N-D-Y day. Oh well, Karen Pesquisi, Ben the show had to go on. The first tour includ- Mehl, Eric Mis, Sanborn Brown, Michael ed a reporter from the New York Times, As- C. Hayes and Blake Bryant Marincic. sociated Press, a camera man and reporter from CNN, the BBC and Philadelphia FIRST PLUNGE Inquirer. The action moved on to the Kids FishWe put then Mayor Jim Miller in the van ing Pond at Chipeta Park where the Polar with them and sent them on their way. Bo Plunge was staged and ready. At this first was the perfect tour guide. A character him- festival, plungers did the deed for a charself, he retold the story of how things came ity of their choice, gaining sponsorships to be and what he did to keep “Grandpa” and pledges from others. Stew Sayah took frozen. Then he led each tour group into on the management of the event, which “Grandpa’s” shed and the strange house he continued to do for the following eight that had been vacant for almost 12 years. Continued on page 30

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

First Freeze Continued from page 28 years. Basically, the Nederland Fire Department showed up with a truck, cut a hole in the ice and changed into gear used for water rescues. Felkley was on the mic again, and 20 jumpers took the plunge including locals Jill Dreves, Laura Lynn Sayah, Hughes Moir, Dr. Maurice Favel, LuAnne MacIntyre, Jim Martin and Tom Plant—who came up with a plastic fish in his mouth, a great crowd pleaser. LOOKING LIKE GRANDPA The most memorable event for me was the Grandpa Look-alike Contest at the Pioneer Inn. There was so much buzz and excitement in the standing-room-only crowd. The only way you could get a beer was literally passing money and empty bottle through the crowd to the bar. Jonathon Beggs, who owned a local fly fishing store, made a five-foot-tall cutout board in Grandpa’s image so contestants could stick their head through it. Each person who entered the contest would answer a series of questions made up by Beggs and Felkley. The contestant with the funniest answers, as judged by the crowd, was the

winner. Many of the contestants came in attendance shooting film, some of which in their own “Grandpa” attire and didn’t ended up being used in their next movie need the cut-out. I remember there being that premiered at the second festival, en10-12 other entries, including a 10-year- titled Grandpa’s Still in the Tuff Shed. old boy and B.J. Ball, whose clothes and body were painted with an “ice” layer CABIN FEVER CURE Even with the strong winds, over 1,700 with added electric lights. people showed up for the first festival. It was a contest full of laughter and surMany were flatlanders struggling to keep prises, but local “Toasty”—as he is affecwarm, getting a first-hand experience in tionately nicknamed—snatched first place how different the weather can be up here. with his winning anBut, there were plenswer to the question, ty of local folks, too, What adjective best and local doctors redescribes Grandma? ported that cases of “Frigid,” he said. cabin fever were exHe walked away tremely reduced after with first place, B.J. the festival. won second and an As for the 2,000 83-year-old BoulT-shirts we had der man was third. printed, they were Afterwards, calm all sold within a few winds and sunshine months. We had creput everyone in the Dave Felkley introduces B.J. Ball in the ated a collector item. mood for Grandpa’s first Grandpa Look-alike Contest. The influence of our Ball and many went “vibrational energy” home to take off a few layers of clothing. showed the world that human “spontaneGRANDPA’S BALL ous combustion” wasn’t just an idea. It The Ball featured Chip and the Chow- can happen, but it takes vision, a sense of derheads, a Boulder group who recorded humor and a lot of focused energy. Interthe theme song to the film, Grandpa’s in esting that something so hot gave birth to the TUFF SHED. The Beeck sisters were something so frozen.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Funeral Trivia

Freezing fun funeral facts By Gail Rubin, CT ith Cofﬁn Races and cryonics, Frozen Dead Guy Days is a fun way to laugh in the face of death. Why not ﬂaunt your knowledge of these fun funeral facts at your next party?

CASKET VERSUS COFFIN A casket is a rectangular box with a lid. A coffin is a six-sided box, wider at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. Caskets are more commonly used in the United States than coffins. FREEZING FACTS Cryonics involves cooling legallydead people to liquid nitrogen temperature (around -124°C) where physical decay essentially stops. The hope is to revive them and restore them to youth and good health by future technologically advanced scientific procedures. Neurocryopreservation is the practice of removing and cryopreserving only the head of a person declared legally dead. The theory is that only the information contained in the brain is of any importance, and that a new body could be cloned or regenerated at some point in the future. Cryonic preservation organizations require advance funding by the future

temporarily deceased person. You can’t just say, “I’ll pay you later.”

permission before scattering on someone else’s private property. It’s not illegal to scatter on public CREMATION – YOUR LAST CHANCE FOR A lands. You can get permits to scatter in SMOKING HOT BODY most national parks. What is illegal is Cremation reduces a body to brittle erecting a monument or placing a marker bones by exposing it to high heat and at the location of the scattering. ﬂame in a special furnace called a retort. For those concerned about global Retorts generate temperatures of 1,600 to warming, cremation does have a large 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. carbon footprint. The cremation of an The remaining bones are ground up in a average sized person generates 532 blender-like machine pounds of CO2. It’s the called a cremulator. equivalent of driving a Any metal parts that car for 547 miles. survive the cremation, Cremation is an such as hip or knee irreversible process replacements and that destroys DNA, the dental work, are individual biomarkers screened out before in our cells. Some the remains are funeral homes offer a returned to the family. simple way to preserve In 1960, the DNA should the family percentage of people Cryostats, or long term storage units, wish to access that in the U.S. choosing are filled with liquid nitrogen at the genetic information Cryonics Institute in Michigan. cremation was at 4 for ancestry or medical percent. The National Funeral Directors reasons in the future. Association predicts the national U.S. cremation rate in 2015 will exceed 50 EMBALMING: A NORTH AMERICAN PHENOMENON percent. The United States and Canada are There are no Cremation Police. the only countries in the world where You can scatter cremated remains just about anywhere. It’s a good idea to ask Continued on page 34

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

pose a health risk. Funeral directors pick up un-embalmed bodies from hospitals and homes all the time, usually dressed in business attire, not hazmat suits. They do use protective gloves when handling bodies.

Funeral Trivia Continued from page 33 embalming is widespread, considered routine and required. Despite notions to the contrary, embalming is almost never required by law. For a viewing longer than 30 minutes with more than just the immediate family, many funeral homes will insist on embalming. In most cases, refrigeration can sufﬁce before a body is buried or cremated. The Centers for Disease Control has never prescribed embalming as a public health measure. Most dead bodies do not

YOUR FRIENDLY FUNERAL DIRECTOR Funeral directors are generally the nicest people you will meet. Most folks are so afraid of death, by extension, they are afraid of the people who are there to help when there is a death in the family. The family can conduct funerals themselves at home in all but nine states: CT, FL, IL, IN, LA, MI, NE, NJ, NY. In spite of this ability, most families prefer handing it over to professionals. Funeral directors help families get through what may be the worst day of their life. While you can still laugh in the face of death, you can make that day less awful. Plan ahead and make arrangements, before there’s a death in the family.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

WHY NOT CELEBRATE? For anyone spiritual but not religious or left cold by traditional funerals, a Funeral Celebrant may be the answer. Funerals may be about the person who died, but they are for those who continue to live and need a ceremony to process grief. Avoiding holding a service can lead to emotional trouble while a “one-size-fitsall” service can leave bereaved families feeling emotionally unsatisfied as well. Funeral Celebrants make the service all about the person who died—their life, their loves and their quirks. A Celebrant is a person who is trained and certified to meet the needs of families at their time of loss. Gail Rubin, CT, is a death educator who uses humor and funny films to discuss mortality, end-of-life, estate and funeral planning issues. The Doyenne of Death® is certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement, author of the awardwinning book and host of the TV and radio shows A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die and creator of The Newly-Dead Game and Mortality Minute radio spots. Her website is www.AGoodGoodbye.com.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

Craft Beer

Brain Freezer Tent hosts craft breweries Epic Brewing Company was founded and is co-owned by California natives David Cole and Peter Erickson, who started an international aquaculture company in Utah in 1992. In 2008, Utah laws changed letting the two entrepreneurs pursue their dream of opening a strong beer microbrewery, like those they frequented in the Golden State, in Utah. They teamed with Brewmaster Kevin Crompton, formerly of Bohemian Brewery, who has brewed since 1994 for three Utah breweries and another in Hawaii. Epic opened with six fermentation tanks giving it the ﬂexibility to create a variety of small batch, artisanal beer. In 2013, the brewery expanded its operations by opening a second brewery at 3001 Walnut St. in Denver with a “proper” tap room featuring its substantial beer selection on draught. Currently brewing more than 39 beers, Epic believes there is a beer for every person and every occasion.

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse was founded by avid homebrewers Don Chapman, Aaron Heaton and Russell Fruits, each captivated by the rich tradition of European beers. Its taproom is located in Loveland just a few doors down from the brewery. Inspired by the history of ancient and modern beers, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse is dedicated to the resurrection of ancient styles and crafting modern German and European beer with its 10-barrel brewhouse. The ﬁnest German malt and hops allows their brewers to produce beers full of ﬂavor and variety. The brewery’s barrel-aging program uses techniques pioneered by wine masters to create a broad selection of barrel-aged and sour beers. They select barrels from masters of bourbon in Kentucky, and wine barrels from France and Colorado’s western slope. Grimm Brothers beers are packaged on site in both 22-ounce bombers, kegs and, more recently, 12-ounce cans.

on’t forget, Oskar Blues Brewing is serving its selection of brews in the ReAnimate Yourself Tent.

Großen Bart Brewery is a joint partnership between Shad Chancey and Taylor Wise established in 2012. The brewery, whose name means “big beard” in German, is located in Longmont and features an outdoor beer garden and mountain views. Established in 2012, it boasts every beer has, “the purest form of outlandish character!” The brewery’s concept is simple: make delicious beers, which include insanely hoppy IPAs, rich creamy stouts, smokey porters, tangy sours, and pungent Belgian dubbels. Having a wide range of options is what makes this brewery diverse. You and your friends are guaranteed to ﬁnd that perfect ale that suits your palette at Großen Bart Brewery. Each beer style is associated with a different type of facial hair. Expect brews like Winﬁeld White Wheat, Dovetail English, Anker Beard Amber, Chin Curtain IPA, and Regent Brown Ale along with a “Beard of the Month.”

Founded as a Lyons, CO brewpub by Dale Katechis in 1997, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse in 2002 using a machine that sealed one can at a time. Oskar Blues now distributes trail-blazing craft brews to 41 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., as well as parts of Canada, Sweden, and the U.K.

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

RC Exhibition

T The Crawl Space Named the Gold Star retailer of Colorado and authorized service center by Axial Racing, The Crawl Space provides top quality customer service and parts support. Its service center is always open for all types of building and repair needs, including custom builds. The store is located at 6429 Miller St. Unit C in Arvada. Call 303-396-5532 or visit www.thecrawlspaceco. com for more information.

his year’s Frozen Dead Guy Days features a Remote Control Exhibition, including RC cars, trucks, quadcopters and more. There will be Snow Ultra 4RC Racing, Ice Rally Racing and a Jumping Contest. Also, Scale Crawling/ Trailing and many other fun events. RC cars will be featured in the Parade on Saturday, and any adults over 18 years of age who would like to participate are invited to join in. Registration for the racing and jumping contests will be day of the events and there will be a kids race and contest if there are enough participants interested

Frozen Dead Guy Days 2015

(there must be an adult present with each child entered). The Jumping Contest will be open to anyone who wishes to bring their RC car/ truck and prizes will be awarded for the Longest Jump, Highest Jump and Most Carnage in a Crash. The Snow Ultra4 Race Saturday will immediately follow the cofﬁn races, which are at 3 p.m., and Sunday’s Ice Race will be at 2 p.m. The RC Jumping Contest will be at 4 p.m. Sunday. All RC events (besides the Parade) will be held in Chipeta Park. RC Events are sponsored by The Crawl Space hobby shop and Oskar Blues Brewery.