“With Home Means Nevada as this year’s theme, we wanted our grand marshals to not only live here but really love Nevada,” said Bobby Bean, Board President of Nevada Day, Inc. “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. They are a great fit to be our 2023 grand marshals.”

The parade is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 on Carson Street in Carson City.

Santina and Orr answered a few Q&As about their time with Wild Nevada and the most frequently asked questions they receive from the public.

Q&A with Dave Santina

Q: How did you start doing the show?

Back at the turn of the 21st century (man, I feel old), producer Jack Kelly had the idea for Wild Nevada. He had seen me on a different show and liked me well enough to suggest that I host this one. I never imagined then that the show would continue on more than two decades later. I guess Jack’s idea was a good one.

Q: What’s your favorite place you’ve visited in Nevada?

Answering this is semi-impossible. The answer changes depending on the day, my memory, and my mood, but today the first place I think of is Liberty Pass, which is part of the Ruby Crest Trail a few miles from Lamoille Canyon. It was the climax of a great day. We passed multiple lakes along the trail, and our guide, Gerry Miller, is the kind of guy whose enthusiasm and sense of fun just rubs off on you. We spent hours navigating the trail, wearing ourselves out, stopping for lunch at Lamoille Lake, then gearing ourselves up again for the push to the top, so when we reached this stunning viewpoint, it was a special moment that felt like the culmination of many wonderful moments.

Q: Have you ever been to…?

You can fill in the blank with any number of place names. People always want to send us to Bodie, which is a very cool ghost town but is pretty deep into California, so not really on our radar. For years, people more or less ordered us to go to Jarbidge, which is a tiny town in gorgeous but remote country north of Elko and nearly in Idaho. I heard about how we had to go to Jarbidge more than any other place, so when we started up production of the show again in 2017, I knew we had to go there, and yes, it was worth it.

Q: Did you ever find your wedding ring?

Unfortunately, no. Sometimes I’m reminded that I foolishly wore my wedding ring on a snowshoe hike up to Chickadee Ridge, where it fell off in the cold, never to be seen again. I discovered that it was missing at the end of the hike when we had returned to the parking area. That was an uncomfortable phone call to my wife, I promise you!

Q: Hey, shouldn’t you be out in the desert somewhere?

I usually get this one when in line at a convenience store or shopping at the supermarket, followed by a chuckle. In fact, I’m pretty much ONLY out in the desert or on a trail during the production of Wild Nevada. I’m not exactly what you’d consider an outdoorsy person, but that is truly the purpose of the show — to encourage you to explore Nevada even if you don’t think it’s your thing. There are so many worthwhile road trips to take out there!

Q: Where’s Chris?

Most of the time, I don’t know. People often assume we’re married because they have seen the two of us together on the show for years. It’s understandable. We have done a couple of family episodes over the years where my wife and daughter joined me for adventures, but those are two out of nearly 100 episodes, so it’s easy to miss.

Q: What should I do this weekend?

Somebody once interrupted my family’s photo shoot at a public park to ask me this! I’m never sure what to say to this one, but if you watch a Wild Nevada episode near your weekend location, you might get a good suggestion or two.

Q: Where’s a good fishing spot?

Beats me. My dad was a big hunter and fisherman, but I am not. That apple fell far, far from the tree.

Q: Have you done Burning Man on the show?

Nope, but that’s nothing against it. We have made it a point to avoid events because they are so time-specific. We like to introduce viewers to places that they can visit most of the year, if not all year, so while we have visited Gerlach and mentioned that Burning Man happens there each year, we haven’t been there during the burn. Probably just as well — the cameras can’t handle the playa dust.

Q: When are new episodes coming?

This winter, I promise! We just completed production on the final eight episodes of Season 6, and we’re now in the editing process. We’ll feature trips showcasing Dayton, Genoa, Pyramid Lake, Mt. Rose, and our first visit to Peavine Peak. We also sneak over to Truckee. Longer-distance trips include the Toiyabe Crest Trail near Austin and a southern journey that returns the show to Valley of Fire State Park and Spring Mountains National Recreation Area for the first time in 20 years.

Q&A with Chris Orr

Q: What is the best part of working on the "Wild Nevada" project?

Growing up in Idaho and later moving to Nevada during high school, working on the "Wild Nevada" project has given me the opportunity to learn so much about my adopted home. Thanks to the knowledgeable guides and guests we encounter on the show, I've had the privilege of learning from some of the very best.

Q: What is your favorite place in the state?

It's tough to pick just one favorite place because Nevada boasts so many beautiful and amazing locations. Instead, I have a list of five favorite locales. The Ruby Mountains have held a special place in my heart since my childhood, as we would make family trips through Elko. Great Basin National Park, with its breathtaking mountain views, is a place I can never get enough of. Lamoille Canyon is another area that I'll never tire of exploring. A recent trip to the Toiyabe Mountains and the Toiyabe Crest Trail has added that remote and incredibly beautiful range to my list of top places. And, of course, I would be remiss if I didn't include the Lake Tahoe Basin; I'm fortunate to have the beautiful lake and its trail systems close enough to enjoy regularly.

Q: How did you get involved in the project?

My journey with the project began when I was a newly hired web designer at PBS Reno, then KNPB Channel 5. Jack Kelly started discussing and planning what would become a new TV series for the station. With my love for hiking and outdoor activities and a desire to learn more about Nevada, I volunteered to work on the series as a researcher or crew member. However, I never imagined I'd be asked to be on-camera as a co-host. After some convincing, along with a lot of patience and coaching from the crew, it's been one of the most rewarding and meaningful projects I've ever had the opportunity to work on. It has allowed me to explore parts of Nevada that I may never have experienced otherwise.

Q: What are the scariest, coolest, and most fun moments you've experienced while filming?

We often get asked about these kinds of moments.

The scariest thing I've done during "Wild Nevada" was jumping out of a plane to film skydiving over Boulder City. I'd do it again, but I know I'd be just as terrified as I was the first time.

We've done so many cool things that it's hard to pick the coolest, but I think it may be watching and experiencing the dark skies in the Massacre Rim area. Observing the glow of the Milky Way and soaking in that amazing experience is something I'll never forget.

For me, the most fun part of the series has probably been sharing it with my family and friends. This especially includes filming "Family Fun" episodes where we got to involve our families in the project. Having my Mom on camera next to me and featuring my dog Reba on a hike and trail run was incredibly enjoyable.

Q: Will the show run out of places to go?

I don't think so! Nevada is a uniquely diverse place for travel, exploration and adventure. There are so many interesting and beautiful things to share and experience. Even when we feature a location or place on "Wild Nevada," the opportunities for fun and exploration always exceed what we can include in a single visit or episode. Just as I'll never tire of learning about this amazing part of the country that I'm fortunate enough to call home, I believe that as long as we feature the remarkable Silver State, we'll never run out of opportunities for new stories and new adventures.

Wild Nevada has traversed everything from the southern Nevada deserts to the tops of the Sierra. You can learn more about the show by visiting PBSreno.org