Nain Rouge parade returns to Midtown
One way to describe Marche du Nain Rouge is as a big costume party/parade, with a bit of a steam punk feel to it, in which everybody joins in. Throw in some touches of Stars Wars, Ghostbusters and Road Warrior and you get the idea.
On Sunday, Detroit’s answer to Mardi Gras stepped off in Midtown as hundreds of costumed revelers celebrated the arrival of spring with a parade along Second Avenue, complete with floats, jugglers, musicians and just about everything else, including a cowboy riding a cow.
The annual event centers around the Nain Rouge, an impish, reddish demon known as the harbinger of doom. As legend has it, the spirit is quite the mischief maker and havoc maker, cursing Detroit’s founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, and the city along with it.
According to Francis Grunow, co-founder of the Marche du Nain Rouge, the spirit tends to scheme against the city.
“When Cadillac was cursed because he offended the Nain Rouge, the Nain Rouge also cursed the city of Detroit and since then people have blamed the Nain Rouge or associated the Nain Rouge with bad things that have happened,” Grunow said.
The Marche du Nain Rouge celebrates liberation from the Nain, Detroit pride, and the beginning of spring.
The event started about noon near Canfield and Second Avenue with pre-parade festivities followed by an opening ceremony on the community stage near the Traffic Jam & Snug restaurant.
The parade began around 1:30 p.m. as participants marched eight blocks south on Second Avenue before circling Cass Park and ending at the Masonic Temple. Following, crowds rushed off to local vendors and the Masonic Temple, where a large after party was held.
What to know about Detroit's Marche du Nain Rouge as Windsor joins the party
Mitchell Rose with Ghostbusters Detroit participated in the march for the second consecutive year. The organization was there to support a local fundraiser event 80s Party For a Purpose.
Rose said she most enjoys the spooky and creative costumes worn by the participants as it reminds her of Halloween.
“I didn’t know Detroit had something this fun, especially spooky fun, love it," Rose said. “I love that there’s demons everywhere, I love the ghosts, I love all of it. It’s like having another Halloween, it’s my favorite holiday so it’s great.”
Bridgette Green with Pingree Farms also marched in the parade with a goat named Octavia, joined by a few other farm animals from the nonprofit organization.
Grunow said the event gives the community a chance to celebrate and take pride in Detroit.
“There’s this great opportunity to use culture and art and creativity in the public realm to grow the footprint of the city and make people feel good about Detroit and themselves and their community and see each other in new, interesting ways,” Grunow said.
New book looks at Detroit through the eyes of Nain Rouge
Grunow said members of the metro area are encouraged to attend the event and dress up, so the Nain doesn’t recognize them.
“We love however people come. Whatever you feel the spirit moves you to dress up in. We love seeing handmade costumes and themed costumes from different parts of the city and the region,” Grunow said. “Wearing something as simple as a Mardi Gras mask is fine or a touch of red flare, the colors of the Nain Rouge are in the dark reds to black category.”
Mike and Robyn Moore dressed in complementary outfits inspired by the devil and are long-time attendees of the Nain Rouge parade.
The two attend on a yearly basis with the same friends to partake in the celebration.
“We’ve come every single year for the past decade. We’re here to celebrate and chase the devil out of Detroit," Robyn said.
The couple said they enjoy everything about the event from the music to the day drinking to the costumes.
“It’s a good example of Detroit’s DIY festivals and parades," Mike said. "Everybody from all different organizations and walks of life are coming together dressed up how they want to dress up and expressing themselves how they want to for the day.”
Grunow said the event is intended to be lighthearted and allow people to laugh at themselves while celebrating spring and enjoying one another. The March du Nain Rouge, which is free to the public, first began in 2010 and has grown over time with thousands of attendees.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Thousands gather for Nain Rouge parade in Midtown
