Monica LaSalle, Nederland. Regardless of any expectations one may have toward Frozen Dead Guy Days ushering in spring-like weather, often times the weather has other plans for the biggest festival weekend of the year in Nederland. This year was no exception with a Saturday full of driving wind with gusts around 50 mph that dipped the temperatures to bone chilling levels. Despite the challenging conditions, the sun shone brightly upon thousands of visitors dedicated to attending. Everybody knows, to attend this festival is not for the weak or faint of heart.

Whether there to celebrate Grandpa Bredo or just the dead in general, droves of festivarians donned their best renditions of otherworldly glamour for the Blue Ball Friday night. With a Hawaiian theme, many added flowery leis and shirts or grass skirts to the otherwise ghoulish cryogenic décor expected for the Grandpa & Ice Queen Look-Alike contest. The dance floor was rocking, and in some instances resembled a mosh pit all night long to bands Envy Alo, Kind Country and Latin Gypsy Ensemble. An enthusiastic crowd shared its voting preferences as contestants presented on stage for the coveted winning status of King and Queen of Frozen Dead Guy Days. This year’s winners hail from Colorado Springs and have attended the festival more than once over the years.

The events on Saturday kicked off with the Pancake Breakfast. Sponsored and supporting the Nederland Area Seniors, they and a host of 50 volunteers served up the hearty breakfast one needs to endure the blistering weather expected to dominate the day. Eggs, bacon, sausage and, of course, pancakes were served up with all the favorite breakfast beverages by the well-oiled machine that is the NAS. Over 6 hours, they served over 600 patrons this past weekend.

People of all shapes and sizes began lining up early for the Parade of Coffin Racers and Hearses, an absolute favorite for most festival attendees. Fighting for elbow room with bigger syndicate media types from New York and elsewhere, everything from cell phones to live news video feed covered every drop of the icy, the deadly, the insanely and enthusiastically dead procession. The local crowd roared with approval as Parade marshals and longtime residents Bunny Spanglar, Geno Kennedy, Barb Hardt, Chris Perret, Eric Mix and Greg “Toastie” Post passed showing their flare amidst the dozens of hearses and coffin race teams announced by Littlefoot MC. A touching tribute to the memory of longtime resident and local reporter Barbara Lawlor kicked off the opening ceremony, leaving frozen tears on all our cheeks.

The viewing of “Grandpa’s in the Tuff Shed” began at 10:30 a.m. and repeated throughout the day, while First street was closed down starting at 11 a.m. for the duration of the festival to allow for Grandpa’s Mall Crawl, where revelers could safely enjoy parading themselves around while participating in contests such as Turkey Bowling, the Frozen T-shirt contest, the Frozen Dead Poetry Slam and Brain Freeze contest. Once again, Gail Rubin of Albuquerque, New Mexico, came up to host the Newly Dead Game, which this year debuted an individual’s version that solicits volunteers from the audience.

The Polar Plunge had less participants than in past years, which probably had nothing to do with the wind chill being in the single digits. None the less, participants bravely took part in the tradition started by Grandpa Bredo’s nephew, Trygve Bauge, and leaped into the frigid waters while our ever-faithful Nederland Fire and Rescue crew stood by to ensure all’s well that ends well.

Immediately after the Polar Plunge, and chomping at the bit, were the Coffin Racers. It was said that never before has there been a race course that was less muddy than the fan stands. Do not think that the ankle-deep mud deterred anyone from witnessing this epic event favorite. Twenty-eight teams participated, with 16 new teams and 12 returning for another crack at the title.

Overshadowing the festival this year was the very real fear that this could, in fact, be the very last year for FDGD. Festival owner/coordinator Amanda McDonald was quoted in at least two Front Range news reports as saying it would be the last year. When speaking with her the Monday after the event, she wanted to make clear that it would be the last year she would participate, but not necessarily for FDGD in general. Her business partner has expressed interest in selling, and there has been some talk of turning the event into a scaled down version that would function as a non-profit. After so many years of putting on the event, McDonald stated that she is just “burned out.” Despite feeling done, “People were happy, the FDGD team was phenomenal, and all the people there were really positive,” stated Amanda, making it her favorite festival to date.

The weather on Sunday made the festival just as busy, with hordes of people crowding along the Peak to Peak highway looking for an opportunity to park and take part. One thing is for certain, this most favorite of festivals has had a long list of experienced and dedicated local staff that endure long hours, crazy weather conditions and tight deadlines for set up and break down. All to ensure that Frozen Dead Guy Days can stick to the focus of honoring Grandpa Bredo and his cryogenically enthusiastic nephew Trygve, with long standing traditions that stem from Norwegian roots and the quirky vibe that will forever be part of Nederland.

And the winners are..

Stephanie Andelman, Nederland.

Blue Ball:

Winning Ice Queen: Bekki Manville.

Winning Grandpa Bredo: Sigurd Torgerson.

This couple from Colorado Springs loves coming here every year for their all-time favorite festival!

Polar Plunge:

Best Costume: Danny Duke and Ryan Poe. This was year two in gold Speedos and big sunglasses. They are from Denver, but Danny lived in Ned for 10 years. It was his 8th year taking the plunge and his first time winning.

Runner Up Best Costume: Tony Bifolck (Quailman).

Coffin Races:

Overall Champion by time as well as the winner of the Coffin Cup against the Manitou Springs Team representing their Emma Crawford Coffin Races: ‘Hozen-Dead Guys.

Their background:

My wife and I almost moved to Denver but couldn’t because of a non-compete issue. We settled in Kentucky instead, but not before we read about Frozen Dead Guy Days. I gathered up my most trusted relatives and friends and united them with visions of coffin races, beer and music.

Ray Campbell - Cleveland, Ohio.

Eric Gustafson - Bend, Oregon.

William Gustafson - Newport, Kentucky (Team Captain).

John Kozlik II - Denver, Colorado.

James Miller - Denver, Colorado.

Jamie Neal - Meridian, Mississippi.

Stephen Printup - Denver, Colorado.

Runner Up by Time: Blue Barracudas

Their background:

This is their 4th year competing in the Coffin Race. Last year and the year before they were runners up! They are from Denver. Did you grow up in the 90s? Well so did they! Olmec, open the gates for the Blue Barracudas! Having collected all the dismembered body parts of the evil God Olmec in that casket, these once childhood TV stars have come back together to permanently seal the great one away from the world in a vat of liquid nitrogen, or perhaps a garden shed, apparently either one will do. Their new coffin is Off The Hooook!

Best Theme: The Undertakers (dressed like characters from Glow).

Best Screw Up on Course: Space Monkey Mafia
They are from Littleton Colorado. They were brainstorming ideas drunk one night and the rest is history. Their team mascot, Bosco, was left behind when they were loading the coffin.

PHOTOS BY Sal DEVINCENZO, MONICA LASALLE and JANA DAVIS.

(Originally published in the March 14, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)