The week leading up to the Marche du Nain Rouge on March 22 will be filled with events, special treats, and lots of great offerings from Detroit businesses to build on the city’s positive spirit for the big parade.
The annual parade is 1 p.m. Sunday March 22, 2015. It will start at Traffic Jam & Snug at corner of West Canfield and Second in Detroit’s Midtown district. More than 4,000 people are expected to attend.
Parking will be available on the street and at nearby Wayne State University lots and structures.
This year’s parade will travel down Second Avenue to the Masonic Temple, where marchers will meet the Nain, if he shows his face again, with an overwhelming spirit of positivity. Afterward, there will be after-party festivities inside the Masonic, with food, drink, official merchandise, a kids zone, and more. It will also feature a Best in Parade contest for neighborhood groups displaying the best non-motorized floats and crewes.
To get Detroiters in the right spirit to meet the Nain, businesses are also taking part in Preparer le Nain – a full week of merriment and good city vibes, March 16-22, 2015.
Preparer le Nain participants include:
City Bird – 460 W. Canfield St. #103 – All week, City Bird will be featuring exclusive, limited-run Nain Rouge-themed merchandise. Stop by to check them out.
City Bird and Nest – 460 W. Canfield St. – On Marche day, both stores will be hosting from 11am-1pm their 6th annual Fête du Nain Rouge with free red Nain Rouge beads with every purchase and free Nain-themed refreshments. City Bird will offer a free mask-making table to help you put the finishing touches on your costume, exclusive limited-edition Nain Rouge-themed merchandise, amazing vintage-style paper masks, and costume accessories.
Go! Sy Thai – 4240 Cass Ave – Suite 103 – One week special – “Du Curry Rouge” – a stir-fry savory dish filled with bamboo slices, red bell peppers, mushrooms, choice of protein or mixed veggies in a savory red curry sauce. The Nain dares you to take the “top of the line” spice level.
Great Lakes Coffee, – Get 10% off bottles of French wine — bottles, glasses and bottles to go — all week, March 16-22, at the Midtown location.
Hop Cat – 4265 Woodward Ave. – March 15-22: Sang de Nain Rouge (Nain Blood) Cocktail and Nain Nuggz “Eat Nain’s Balls” Red Hot Pretzel Nuggets; March 22: Brunche au le Chat Houblon, a special pre-Marche brunch featuring Rouge Tacos.
The Hub of Detroit – 3611 Cass Ave. – Come into The Hub all Preparer le Nain Semaine Week and not only do you get 10% off a standard tune up, 15% off a deluxe tune up, and 20% off accessories (with the purchase of a bike) BUT you also get a free Hub water bottle when you spend over $10 in the shop and mention The Nain!
La Feria – 4130 Cass Ave.- Drink specials available all week include a “Bloody Sangria,” as well as a “Sangre del Nain” (Blood of the Nain) — an elixir of tequila, tamarind, lemon and lime that is sure to drive the Nain out of Detroit one final time!
Peacock Room and Frida, 15 E. Kirby St. – Prepare for the Nain all week with buy one item get free gift ($15 value) while supplies last. Anything Red is 15% off too.
Red Hook, 8025 Agnes St. – Special Marche location at Motor City Brewing, selling hot coffee and red macarons on 3/22. Special Red Hot French Macarons will be available all week at their shop in Indian Village.
Source Booksellers – 4240 Cass Ave. #105 – In honor of spring, a special red tag sale is being held all week. Hunt through the store for the red sales tags, saving between 10-25% on selected books.
Traffic Jam and Snug – 511 W. Canfield St. – On March 19th, help dance the Nain out of Detroit with some square dancing from 7 PM-10 PM. Call 313-831-1265 for reservations and beginners are welcome. TJs is also featuring Nain inspired food and drink specials all week – crayfish boil – A wild mess of fiery red hot crawdads just up from New Orleans, with Redskins, corn on the cob and Andouille sausage. ‘Devil in a Red Dress’ Devil’s food cake filled with chocolate ganache clothed in a red raspberry cream frosting and served with vanilla ice cream dessert along with Nain Rouge red wine and spicy Bloody Marys too.
Yoga Shelter-Midtown – 69 W. Forest – Use the password “Blame it on the Nain” and get one free class the week of March 16-22.
Find more details on the Marche du Nain Rouge 2015 and a full list of Preparer week offerings at www.marchedunainrouge.com.
Our partners
Marche du Nain Rouge wouldn’t happen without the help of its many sponsors and partners, including: Midtown Detroit Inc., Erb Family Foundation, the John S. and James L Knight Foundation, the Masonic Temple, Quicken Loans, Red Hook, Skillman Foundation, Traffic Jam, Zipcar, Hop Cat, Model D, Canfield Lofts, Slows To-Go, Yelp, Cass Café, City Bird, Nest, Extra P Digital Media Services, Frida, MLive Detroit, the Peacock Room, Recycle Here!, Temple Bar, Canine to Five, the Grunows, Johnny Noodle King, Green Dot Stables, and Noir Leather.
Some history
In 1701, legendary founder of Detroit Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac met a fortune-teller, who warned him to beware of the Nain Rouge, the “Red Dwarf” who appeared to Cadillac in a dream. She warned Cadillac that the the little red imp is the embodiment of his ambition, anger, pride, envy — everything that held him back. The Nain Rouge, she told him, is the harbinger of doom. However, when Cadillac first saw the fiend in person, the Nain taunted him mercilessly and Cadillac chased the Nain away with a stick. Unfortunately, the fortune turned out to be true and Cadillac died penniless after he left Detroit for France. The city he founded, however, fared better, endured and prospered (mostly), against the fiendish efforts of the Nain Rouge.
For 300 years, Detroiters memorialized Cadillac’s actions and willingness to persevere and hope for better things, combined with the determination to rise from the ashes. At Detroit’s worst moments, the Nain has been there, cackling or taunting the city’s residents. And so every year, Detroiters celebrate liberation from the Nain, a new beginning, and whatever is good and working in the city in a spring festival for the good and betterment of the city of Detroit.
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