‘Wild Nevada’ hosts named grand marshals for Nevada Day Parade

Chris Orr and Dave Santina, hosts of PBS Reno’s travel-adventure series Wild Nevada, will be the grand marshals of the 2023 Nevada Day Parade.

“With Home Means Nevada as this year’s theme, we wanted our grand marshals to not only live here but really love Nevada. Chris and Dave know this state better than most of us, and you can tell in every episode, there’s no place they would rather be,” said Bobby Bean, Nevada Day, Inc. president. “They are a great fit to be our 2023 grand marshals.”

Nevada has one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes of any state in the nation, and home to just about any type of adventure you can imagine. Few people know this better than Orr and Santina, who have been staples of local television since Wild Nevada began on PBS Reno.

“What perfect timing to have Chris and Dave serve as the grand marshals for the Nevada Day Parade this year, as PBS Reno celebrates its 40th anniversary of service to our region,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno president and CEO. “Wild Nevada is seen not only locally but on 138 other PBS stations across the nation, sharing the great stories of our state for so many to see and enjoy. We are honored and excited by this choice.”

Besides hosting Wild Nevada, Orr is PBS Reno’s director of art and digital marketing and has developed multiple local-national websites, led numerous design projects, launched the station’s social media platforms and leads a team that develops and maintains the station’s online, social media and print branding. She has been at PBS Reno for more than 23 years.

Orr grew up in rural Idaho and moved to Reno with her family while she was in high school. She is an alum of the University of Nevada, Reno, and the Reynolds School of Journalism. An enthusiastic outdoorswoman, Orr hikes and runs and is usually in training for some upcoming race. She loves to travel but is always happy to get home and spend time with her dog, Reba.

Santina has more than 30 years of experience in broadcast production, currently serving as director of Local Content at PBS Reno, overseeing the station’s nationally recognized content. His first hosting gig was for a PBS Reno quiz show that didn’t last very long but led directly to Wild Nevada. Although he doesn’t consider himself very “outdoorsy,” Santina is grateful for the opportunity Wild Nevada has given him to experience places that he otherwise would never have seen.

The parade will take place Oct. 28.