The second edition of the Nain Rouge Festival is coming to Windsor and will take place on Saturday, March 23, as part of Francophonie month.

Drawing inspiration from local Detroit folklore and complementing the larger Marche du Nain Rouge festival in Detroit, this festival has a distinctly Canadian flavour. It aims to celebrate local French culture and folklore in Windsor and Essex County.

Legend has it that the nain rouge — French for “red dwarf” — draws on both a Norman tradition brought to the area by French settlers in the 18th century and local Indigenous beliefs. The nain rouge is said to haunt Detroit to this day, where residents see it as a harbinger of disaster.

The Phog Lounge and Meteor are the two venues for the 2024 festival. Throughout the evening, participants will have the opportunity to make their own masks. Tarot readings, trivia, and musical performances by francophone artists like Isabelle Bouffard, Cadill’Rock, and Yao will be on the program. Full details of the festival program can be found here.