Nederland is known as one of Colorado’s quirkiest towns, in no small part because of Frozen Dead Guy Days, a festival that began in 2002 to celebrate “Grandpa Bredo,” a cryogenically frozen Norwegian man whose body rests nearby. But when the festival moved to Estes Park this year amid a dispute between its organizers and the town government, some locals decided to create a new event to continue the eccentricities that make Nederland feel like home to them.
The Bizarre Cat Bazaar, organized by resident Deb D’Andrea, will hit downtown Nederland Saturday, Aug. 12. Itap a thoroughly cat-themed celebration to honor the town’s first and only feline mayor, Fred, a popular stray who won an election on write-ins in the late 1970s as a response to frustration with the local government. Fred is buried in front of Town Hall, his resting place denoted by a plaque that reads “Fred the Cat, Legend of First Street, 1972-1989.”
“It’s all in the name of good fun,” D’Andrea said. “Things have gotten a little bit serious, and I really want to bring the fun back.”
The free festival is almost entirely funded by D’Andrea, who is selling handmade to fundraise. There will be all-day performances by local dance and music groups, including local comedy band Los Cheesies, and a cat costume contest with a top prize of $500.
“My original (idea) was to have it be very immersive and engaging,” D’Andrea said. “Sort of like a science fair meets Meow Wolf.”
D’Andrea spent many years before her retirement working in festival and event planning, so the Bizarre Cat Bazaar will have all the hallmarks of a classic festival, including 30 local vendors and food trucks (but no alcohol). Some booths, like the Hippie Cat Tie-Dye station, will have activities for kids, and there will be an enormous, inflatable pool, filled by the Nederland Fire Department and paid for by the event’s only sponsor, the Diner Bar.
“I didn’t want to go to town and ask for money, and I didn’t want to go to the businesses and ask for money,” D’Andrea said. “I wanted to see if I really could create something that’s sustainable that supports the town.”
Nederland, with a population of , is a town of many festivals, of which Frozen Dead Guy Days was only the most famous. But it attracted nearly 20,000 curious people in 2022, and proved fatal for the relationship between Nederland and organizers.
Frozen Dead Guy Days co-owner Sarah Mosely Martin explained why on “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.”
Soon after, that while the 2022 festival had “received quite a bit of positive feedback” concerning noise reduction efforts and traffic flow, that there were also “significant challenges that resulted from Frozen Dead Guy Days not adhering to the plans submitted, discussed, and finalized … ultimately creating confusion, disorganization, and safety concerns.”
Organizers then moved the 2023 event to Estes Park, where it took place in March. But the change stripped away some of Nederland’s unique identity.
To D’Andrea, Fred the cat is just another example of Nederland history worth celebrating, and a chance to benefit local businesses and residents with another one-of-a-kind, localized event.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. between First and Second streets east of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, where the farmer’s market is normally held. D’Andrea said her talks with the town and its businesses have been smooth. The goal isn’t to make money, but to host an event that truly celebrates and supports Nederland, she said.
This “Caturday,” the shed in the center of town that used to hold an open-coffin photo-op for Frozen Dead Guy Days has been repainted with cartoon images of Fred the cat, and a quote that signals the return to history-minded programming in Nederland.
The shed’s message: “Fred lived in a time when music flowed from the Caribou Ranch, Miner Tom was digging for gold, and a stray cat was voted mayor by the townsfolk.”
