What to know about Detroit's Marche du Nain Rouge as Windsor joins the party

Detroit’s Marche du Nain Rouge will descend upon Midtown once again Sunday, March 26 for a wild afternoon and evening along the Cass Corridor.

And for the first time ever, just across the river, neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada is hosting its own mini-Nain Rouge event the day before, on Saturday, in an effort to get in on the French-inspired fun stemming from the region’s history.

Here are three things to know about both parties:

The demon may finally reappear

Devised around an ill-intentioned, demonic red dwarf — an urban legend that’s woven throughout Detroit’s history — the celebration, which began in 2010, heralds the start of spring and gives area residents a unique way to display their Detroit pride. Elaborate floats and costumes abound during the Marche while the Nain taunts revelers, who gang up to drive him back out of the city and restore peace.

Except … last year, while a lively crowd gathered to once again chase him away, the Nain never appeared.

More:Only thing missing from 2022 Nain Rouge: The Nain itself

So, who’s to blame for the major disasters of Detroit’s past twelve months? The potholes? The long winter? The blackouts? I-94 just sort of in general?

And, importantly, will the Nain appear this weekend to finally take his lumps? After all, he hasn’t been spotted since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parade organizer Francis Grunow remains tight-lipped.

“You know, we never really know if he’s going to show up,” Grunow said. “But the official word is that the Nain Rouge wasn’t there (last year) because we were just practicing, because we hadn’t done a parade in a few years because of the pandemic.”

Windsor is bringing the fun

Windsor’s mini-Nain event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Le Centre Communautaire Francophone de Windsor-Essex-Kent, 720 Ouellette Ave., just across the tunnel from Detroit. People are invited to mask and dress up, and at the end of the event, attendees will walk a few blocks to the Phog Lounge, 157 University Ave. W. at 8:30 p.m., an after party will begin with music by Cadill’ Rock. Cadill’ Rock is a blues-rock band from France led by Xavier Coron, a Frenchman who over the years has become charmed by Detroit’s Nain Rouge festivities. This year, he penned several original tunes about the Nain and crossed the Atlantic to be a part of the proceedings.

Detroit's after party is growing

The after party for Detroit’s annual parade takes place at the Masonic Temple, 500 Temple St. This year, it’s expanding on its artistic element with artworks that "dance" to the music.

“There’ll be some interesting artwork inside,” Grunow said. “There’s an artist, Sean Hages, who’s had stuff at Movement Festival, and he works with inflatables — like, you know, the thing you see on the side of the road that looks like a dancing, crazy person. But his are organic and intricate and (in) odd shapes, and he’ll have those at the after party in the Masonic Temple, downstairs on either side of the stage.”

Detroit's Marche du Nain Rouge starts at 1 p.m. Sunday with starting ceremonies at Second Avenue and Canfield Street in Detroit. The parade culminates at the steps of the Masonic Temple, usually with a showdown with the Nain, as paraders seeking to banish him once again.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit's Marche du Nain Rouge: What you need to know