Local artist Aaron Allen Marner to be Palm Springs pride parade grand marshal

Local artist Aaron Allen Marner will be the grand marshal for the 2024 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade, organizers announced this week.

Marner is known for his vibrant, thought-provoking artwork, according to Greater Palm Springs Pride. A Phoenix native now based in Palm Springs, he blends portraiture, figurative painting and collage in pieces that explore themes of social justice, mental health, racial inequality and HIV prevention as well as the beauty of the human form and the power of nature. 

“I am deeply honored to be named Grand Marshal of the Palm Springs Pride Parade,” Marner said in a statement. “Pride is a celebration of love, diversity, and equality, and I am proud to be a part of such an important event. I hope my artwork can inspire others to embrace their true selves and to fight for a more just and equitable world.” 

Marner’s art has been shown in gallery exhibitions across the country, and he has also garnered attention for large-scale murals and public art installations. Parade organizers said Marner’s use of his art to help inspire social change “aligns perfectly” with Greater Palm Springs Pride’s mission.  

“Aaron Allen Marner is a true artist and a powerful voice in our community,” Ron deHarte, Greater Palm Springs Pride president and CEO, said in a statement. “His work inspires and challenges us, and we are excited to honor him as our Grand Marshal.” 

The 2024 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade will take place Nov. 3, and organizers expect it to draw thousands along Palm Canyon Drive. The parade is the culmination of a Pride celebration featuring a variety of events and activities from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.

“The 2024 Pride Week theme is ‘Be You,’ which embraces the power of self-expression, inclusiveness, and love,” according to the Greater Palm Springs Pride statement. “The theme reinforces the city’s reputation of cherishing the value and dignity of all people.”

Pride Week events take place downtown and in the Arenas District.