March Du Nain Rouge 2026: See The Photos

March Du Nain Rouge 2026: See The Photos

March 23, 2026

by Ami Nicole ACRONYM (Photographer + Writer)

Sunday, March 22, Detroiters and suburbanites joined in the street to celebrate and shoo the Nain Rouge from Detroit once more, as this pesky little fella will NOT get the hint!

WHAT IS MARCH DU NAIN ROUGE?

The Marche Du Nain Rouge is a parade that goes on every Spring in the Cass Corridor of Detroit, Michigan, beginning near Motor City Brewing Works and Third Man Records. The basic premise is that parade-goers often don red, show up in the Cass Corridor and enjoy a Mardi Gras-style party while attempting to banish the “Red Dwarf” from the city and all his bad luck that he brings to Detroit.

The Red Dwarf is part of the city’s lore, who is said to have had a run-in with Antoine Laumet de La Mothe Cadillac, Detroit’s Founder. Cadillac, according to the legend, kicked the Dwarf, and in turn, the Dwarf bestowed a curse on Detroit, creating its bad luck for years to come. The attendees parade down 2nd Avenue to the Masonic Temple (in previous years, the parade went down Cass Avenue), hear the Dwarf speak (and taunt), and then he’s shooed from the city for another year.

There were fire and musical performers, lots of dancing in the street. Many people have taken to dressing in costume for the festivities, from intricate or macabre offerings to wearing more intricate costumes from all eras. Discussing it with local photographer Libby O’Clair, “It’s themed like ‘bring your weird.'” We couldn’t put it any better than that.

Nain Rouge is great for people-watching (and a photographer’s dream), so check out all the sights we captured this year, and make sure to tenitively mark your calendars for next year!