A festival is born from a small, albeit weird, piece of local history. The festival grows, so much so that its story is what people see when they research Nederland, Colorado. Over the years what was once a quirky winter event in a strange mountain town became a sensation, a tourist attraction, and to some locals, a burden.

Nederland residents are seemingly split into different camps of opinion when it comes to Frozen Dead Guy Days (FDGD). There are those who believe that the festival has outgrown the town; that Nederland’s size and infrastructure simply can not accommodate FDGD or any events of its size. There are residents who are “over it” and who actively leave the town for the three days of the festival.

There are local business owners who hope for a good boost to their revenue over the weekend of FDGD. There are also local business owners who feel ignored by festival organizers, echoing statements from residents who believe that the festival no longer represents or supports the Nederland community.

And there are those who believe just the opposite, who believe that Town officials are, either purposefully or through perceived incompetence, making it harder for festivals to exist in Nederland. Even as the 2022 FDGD event was coming to a close, rumors were circulating that it would be the last FDGD in Nederland; some rumors had the festival and the dead guy himself taking a road trip to California.

These rumors had existed for years before the 2022 festival, but the official statement from festival organizer Sarah Moseley Martin on November 1, 2022, made these certain FDGD detractors feel as though the rumors had been confirmed.

“FDGD 2023 is canceled due to numerous factors including our own operational hurdles returning after a two-year COVID hiatus, a lack of partnership with the Town of Nederland, and the challenges of large event production on the safety and security fronts,” Martin stated.

“At this time, we regretfully have to reassess how to go forward with every intention of honoring the cultural and historical value of Grandpa’s story and still be fiscally responsible,” Martin said. “This has been a really hard decision, but Town put the nail in the coffin when their wrap report stated that they would like to keep the festival in Nederland but refuse to work with the festival’s current owners again and stipulated that Guercio Field could no longer be used.”

The wrap report mentioned in Martin’s statement refers to a letter which compiled the positives and the challenges of the 2022 FDGD that was sent to festival organizers Martin and Amanda MacDonald from the Town of Nederland on March 29. The eight page letter contains detailed notes concerning ten different areas of focus, from communication, parking and traffic, safety and security, and the overall FDGD site plan.

The Town of Nederland noted as positives in communication that FDGD organizers “worked quickly to ensure that residents and businesses directly impacted were able to obtain barricade passes before the event” and that “FDGD volunteers were receptive to working on the fly and jumping in where needed.”

However, the Town listed many challenges in communication and made the claim that FDGD did not follow the provided communication plan.

Indian Peaks Radio Club (IPRC), who were serving as the Emergency Communication Center for the 2022 festival, were expecting all security radio traffic to come through a 4-channel VHF radio system, as stated in the communication plan. Instead, security traffic was coming through on a 16-channel UHF system, and the critical information was being aired on several different channels which were not listed in the communication plan.

IPRC were forced to contact security personnel by cell phone, and in doing so had continued difficulty in contacting the head of security.

The Town of Nederland did not provide any positives on the wrap report for how security was handled at the 2022 FDGD. The many challenges in security that were listed include complaints of security personnel’s lack of distinctive uniforms, as well as issues with security personnel not being fully aware of their responsibilities, such as stopping FDGD patrons from leaving the main tent areas with open containers of alcohol.

It was also noted in the wrap report that the hired security personnel for the 2022 FDGD were vague in their calls to medical personnel, causing confusion as to the seriousness of those calls. The Town of Nederland determined that the third-party security firm All Seasons Security will not be permitted to serve as security for future FDGD events in Nederland.

Safety of 2022 FDGD festival goers was also a concern, as the wrap report indicated that vehicle barricades that were expected to be positioned in strategic town areas, such as at 119 and East 1st Street, on Snyder at East 2nd Street, and on East Street near 3rd Street, were never set up at those areas. Due to the lack of barriers, patrons were walking dangerously on the highway on Saturday night during the 2022 festival. Local law enforcement helped to transport people back to their vehicles to avoid any accidents.

The wrap report provided detailed complaints on the way FDGD organizers handled the operational logistics of mud and snow mitigation, parking and traffic control, zero waste initiatives, and overall compliance of the official site plan. Noncompliance of the site plan resulted in a fence on Guercio Field being damaged repeatedly by snow plows.

The outcome of the wrap report resulted in the Town of Nederland adding some stipulations for the continuation of a working relationship between the town and FDGD organizers. Such stipulations included that all applications and plans for a 2023 event be submitted by Thursday, June 30, 2022. The Town also planned to recommend to the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) that fees be applied for any failure by event organizers to execute and adhere to the official submitted plans.

The Town also desired to have more power in determining the timeline of the event’s organization, in an effort to prevent last-minute changes to the plans and itineraries. It was also specified in the wrap report that an event organizer who is not an owner of the festival should be identified and placed as the primary liaison for FDGD to the Town, “as Town staff feel that the organizers struggle with being transparent and with effective communication.”

The refusal to permit the use of Guercio Field, which Martin had mentioned in her November 1 statement as a major reason for the cancellation of FDGD in Nederland, refers to a mention in the Town of Nederland’s wrap report. The March 29 letter to FDGD organizers mentions that Guercio Field will not be available in 2023 due to restoration and revitalization work being done on the surrounding trails and fields.

The work on Guercio, as well as at Barker Reservoir, must be completed by March of 2023 as a condition for the use of funds provided to Nederland by the Great Outdoors Colorado (BOCO) grant.

The Town of Nederland made an official statement in response to the FDGD organizers’ November 1 statement concerning the event’s cancellation. The Town wished to reaffirm its support of special events and festivals such as FDGD, but also desired to defend itself from Martin’s statement that Nederland had “put the nail in the coffin” of the event.

“In addition to serving as a sales tax boost for our municipality and local businesses, we acknowledge that events provide an opportunity for people to come together, celebrate arts, culture and music, and overall just have a great time,” The Town’s statement reads.

“There were, however, significant challenges that resulted from FDGD not adhering to the plans submitted, discussed, and finalized during technical review committee meetings, ultimately creating confusion, disorganization, and safety concerns.” The official statement from Town continues to detail the aforementioned challenges listed in their March 29 letter to FDGD organizers.

“Town is looking to continue communication to assess ways in which there can be a fun and safe FDGD festival in town while maintaining our Town assets and protecting our valuable resources. We have always appreciated and valued the partnership with the FDGD and look forward to future conversations,” the Town of Nederland’s statement concludes.

There was certainly a belief or hope from Town officials that a partnership with FDGD could continue. During the November 9 meeting of the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA), NDDA Director Kate Masingale addressed the Board with information regarding funds provided by the NDDA to FDGD organizers for the 2022 event.

The NDDA administers the initial grant funding to the FDGD organizers to throw the event each year, and therefore the NDDA monitors payments made by FDGD to its third-party vendors, including law enforcement and traffic flagging services.

Masingale stated from the agenda information memorandum (AIM) on November 9 that festival organizers were open to future conversation. However, NDDA Treasurer Ron Mitchell commented that he had heard just the opposite.

Though the festival organizers’ statement made on November 1 only noted that FDGD would be taking a hiatus for 2023, it was later confirmed on December 1, in an official meeting of the Visit Estes Park Board that the festival had been sold to Estes Park and The Stanley Hotel. And not only had FDGD been sold to Nederland’s neighbor, but the 2023 FDGD is all set to commence on the weekend of March 17 to 19, 2023.

“This is not stealing this famous festival from Nederland,” Kara Franker, CEO of Visit Estes Park, said to fellow Board members at the December 1 meeting. “We want to rescue this festival, we want to professionalize it.”

“Think about how Burning Man was on the beach and had to move to the desert. You kind of graduate as the brand becomes exciting and big,” Franker said, referring to the early, illegitimate days of Burning Man, which is now a worldwide known event with corporate sponsorship.

Franker discussed with Visit Estes Park Board members how the revenue from Estes Park’s lodging taxes earned over the weekend of the festival will be funneled back into the town to fund affordable workforce housing and child care programs. Franker also discussed the prospect of hiring a big name musical act to play the 2023 FDGD festival through contacts with the music and radio streaming company Audacy.

The Visit Estes Park Board spoke of how to properly promote the event, as well as committed to working with local businesses and community leaders to assure they are prepared for the event and included in the rewards that it can bring.

“Can you imagine 20,000 people in our town in March? We might be talking five, six million in sales tax revenue… in March.” Franker reiterated that the purchase of FDGD is an opportunity for Estes Park to extend their tourist season through the traditionally slower months of early Spring.

Some Board members also spoke briefly on how to “upscale” the event in order to “make it grow into something more significant,” though they also discussed a hope to keep the festival “weird.”

On December 2, the announcement of the festival’s sale to Estes Parks was highly publicized, as was the festival organizers’ November 1 statement that the 2023 festival was on hiatus. News sources across Boulder and Denver ran stories about the “rescuing” of FDGD, with seemingly no acknowledgement of the festival organizers’ roles in the failed partnership with Nederland.

The Town of Nederland again responded with an official statement about Estes Park’s acquisition of the festival. The statement was that of support for Estes Park and the Stanley Hotel, while also reinforcing the idea that FDGD has gotten too big for the town.

“The owner of the Stanley Hotel is passionate about keeping the spirit of FDGD alive, collaborating with the FDGD event organizers and the Town of Nederland, and is looking forward to working with Visit Estes Park and the Estes Park municipal events team to hold an awesome event there,” The Town of Nederland’s statement reads.

“Unfortunately, Nederland really does not have the infrastructure to support a 20,000 person event. However, Estes Park does have that capacity and they are Nederland’s Peak to Peak neighbor, which means the event stays in the mountains.” The official statement concludes with labeling Nederland’s loss of the festival as an opportunity for the Town to reevaluate what festivals it can conceivably host in the future.

Nederland’s residents and local business owners have different perspectives on losing the festival.

“Frozen Dead Guy Days in Estes Park makes no sense. But let’s be realistic, that last iteration of Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland wasn’t a Nederland festival either,” said one commenter on Nederland residents’ Facebook page Nedheads, responding to a post about the sale of the festival. “It was a bunch of bands, food trucks, and visitors from other places mucking up our place. Very little benefit for us locals.”

“Ned is too small, and clearly, too corrupt to be able to host this event anymore,” said another commenter. “Estes has always been a tourist town, in a way that I believe we want the same fiscal gain from but cannot practically and safely support. Let it go. Let’s create something new. Maybe don’t invite the whole Denver metro area. I’m happy it’s over. Let’s move on together.”

“The nice thing is it will no longer be a mess for locals, but there is still a need to boost business for our local hard workers in the lull,” posted another longtime resident. “Eldora is no help, there’s no Chamber and probably not much unity to make a difference. In so many surveys done in Ned, one clear thing was that Nedheads didn’t want Ned to become like Estes Park. I guess Estes wants to be more like Ned.”

“It was such a big thing for local businesses.” Ryan Blackwell, owner of Boogie Records on 150 North Jefferson Street, shared his thoughts with The Mountain-Ear about the loss of the festival. “It put Nederland on the map. It brought tens of thousands of people, potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars up to a small town where doing business isn’t easy. It was such a big boon,” Blackwell continued.

“When I decided to move up here six years ago the thought of having that annual festival was a big part of my decision. Overall I think we are really missing out and we really lost something special. I’m pretty devastated by it and I’m really disappointed,” Blackwell said.

Public discussion on Nedheads became centered around placing blame for the loss of the festival on Town staff making a “unilateral decision.” The finger was also pointed at the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) for allegedly allowing members of Town staff to have the supposed power to make such decisions without review by publicly elected officials.

The March 29 letter to FDGD organizers does not mention the termination of a partnership between the Town of Nederland and FDGD. There is no conversation on record between Town staff and FDGD owners in which the termination of their partnership was discussed. However, Trustees have publicly stated that they did not discuss the March 29 letter, or “wrap report” at any point after the 2022 festival.

Regardless of public perception on the Town of Nederland’s efforts towards holding future festivals, the NDDA has been actively working on creating an outdoor performance space centered around Guercio Field to help promote special events in town.

While the future of festivals in Nederland remains up in the air, the future of FDGD is well underway. Festival organizers, as well as representatives of the festival’s new home, are working passionately and diligently to assure that the 2023 FDGD commences without a hitch.

“It’s going to be a Herculean effort,” noted John Cullen, President of the Grand Heritage Hotel Group and owner of The Stanley Hotel, as he spoke to The Mountain-Ear about the future of FDGD in Estes Park. “It’s going to take a lot of human and financial capital to pull this off, especially given that we’re going forward and getting it done in short notice here.”

“The good news is that The Stanley team is used to that; we do concerts on less than 90 days’ notice. This one is obviously a little bit different because we’re going to be taking the entire fairgrounds, and using the streets of Estes Park, as well as the 61 acres of the Stanley, and that’s a lot of logistics.” Cullen explained how Franker and Visit Estes Park is a helpful resource in handling the logistics of throwing a three-day, townwide festival, and also wished to shout out the FDGD organizers.

“Sarah and Amanda really did do a great job of setting up the program and the right people. That, more than anything else, is what we’re buying; an established program with a really great group of followers, which will now have the resources and support of a town that’s built for tourism.”

Cullen explained further how Estes Park is a seemingly smarter choice for the type of festival that FDGD has grown into.

“It’s going to be a huge benefit to the town in terms of tax revenue because the town is basically built for tourism and taxes tourists,” Cullen said, mentioning Estes Park’s 6% sales tax and 5.5% lodging tax. “That right there is more than half a million dollars a year in incremental business taxes to the town of Estes Park.

“I love that Ned launched this and made it into the fun festival that it is but it grew to 20,000 people. Without the benefits of tourism taxes, lodging taxes, and sales taxes, which makes the festival affordable, it could destroy the very fabric of the town.

“It’s better for the festival and it’s better for the town of Nederland, and this way they’ll still be able to be a part of the festival but won’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid cops, in unpaid support, in repairs to the field which are not funded and not affordable.”

Cullen, who has owned The Stanley Hotel for 27 years, detailed to The Mountain-Ear the many ways in which the 2023 FDGD festival will deliver different and new attractions, while also maintaining the original essence of the strange and macabre event.

“At The Stanley Hotel we do weird well. I can’t think of another hotel that would be willing to add more weirdness to the mix,” Cullen joked before speaking on the importance of The Stanley Hotel’s concert and arts venue to the town of Estes Park, providing indoor events to locals and tourists during seasons of bad weather.

The use of an indoor venue and the ability to utilize The Stanley Hotel’s 4,000 hotel rooms to house festival goers will allow FDGD to evolve into an overnight festival. Cullen also noted that the ability to bring in a big name headlining musical act will be a major addition and upgrade to the festival. But Cullen also wished to add that despite the changes, Nederland residents should not feel as though the festival no longer includes them.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of the same events run by a lot of the same people. I think you’re going to see a lot of familiar faces; and we want to make sure we keep it weird,” Cullen said.

“I do believe we have a Peak to Peak Highway here that’s more than just physical, it’s emotional. We have the ability to show people the natural beauty that we live in. I can see how every festival we have here actually involves Nederland in some way and I’m hopeful that tourists come and go through Ned on the way and spend time there, spend the night there.” Cullen concluded by mentioning that there is hope of a continued partnership with Nederland through the NDDA and the chance for Nederland businesses to be involved in providing and selling FDGD merchandise.

Though it will be different for Nederland not to see dead poets reciting loudly in the streets, not to see the excited and inebriated rabble in their creatively morbid costumes, and though it will be hard without freezing cold dunk tanks and without heavily decorated coffins, the festival is not as dead as its namesake. Our neighbor has offered to keep Frozen Dead Guy Days alive for many years to come, and it’s in the Nederland spirit to help them keep that weirdness from dying.

For updates on FDGD, keep an eye on their website at https:// frozendeadguydays.com/