Like the vernal equinox, the Marche du Nain Rouge has become a herald of springtime in Detroit: Locals gather in the Cass Corridor, clad in red and black disguises, and chase the folkloric Detroit villain the Nain Rouge (“Red Dwarf”) out of town. Of course, half the fun of the parade is the pro-Nain contingency, which believes the Nain is a misunderstood benevolent spirit and that legend of the Nain Rouge has become lost in translation. No matter what side you’re on, there’s no denying Marche du Nain Rouge is indisputably one of the most interesting Detroit traditions, if only a recent one.
Festivities start at noon; parade departs at 1 p.m.; Cass and Canfield, Detroit; marchedunainrouge.com; free.
