Greater Palm Springs Pride has named its 2026 grand marshals, and the lineup for the milestone 40th anniversary parade on November 8 mixes national star power with deep local roots. Comedian, writer and actor Fortune Feimster will serve as National Grand Marshal, while Grammy- and Emmy-nominated actor, singer and songwriter Cheyenne Jackson takes on the role of Celebrity Grand Marshal. Two additional honorees, Gary Moline and Marshall Pearcy, round out a slate of four individuals being recognized this year.
The announcement arrives as the organization celebrates 40 years since its founding. The festival traces back to 1986, when it began as a dinner and variety show called “Sizzle” at the Riviera Resort. The organization commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising before growing into the city's first parade with 35 participating units along Williams Road to Demuth Park, according to Greater Palm Springs Pride. The organization formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1997, per the same account, and now estimates its multi-day festival and parade draw roughly 200,000 visitors annually from Southern California and beyond.
Comedy and Cabaret Anchor Grand Marshal Weekend
Feimster's grand marshal appearance coincides with an encore of her stand-up tour, Takin' Care of Biscuits, set for 8 p.m. on November 8 at the Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs. The venue sits directly along the main parade route, according to the Plaza Theatre. Jackson, meanwhile, will perform at 6 p.m. that same day at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, in a concert titled That Guy from That Thing that spans Nat King Cole classics to Broadway standards. Tickets for the venue range from $50 to $120, per the McCallum Theatre.
The parade itself kicks off at 10 a.m. on November 8 at Palm Canyon Drive at Tachevah, traveling south through downtown Palm Springs before concluding at the entrance to the Pride festival. The festival that follows is free and open to the public, featuring live entertainment, vendors, resource booths and community programming. The City of Palm Springs, PS Resorts and Arenas Road merchants all support the parade and festival.
A Local Legacy Honored Amid Loss
Marshall Pearcy, known in drag as Dottie Dubois of Dottie Dubois & Maude, will receive the Pride Royalty for Life honor, recognized for decades of service and the legacy of Les Dames du Soleil. That legacy carries particular weight this year: a tribute posted on PromoHomo.TV highlights Douglas Woodmansee.
Gary Moline will receive the Community Service Award, recognized for more than 25 years of civic and LGBTQIA+ community involvement, including leadership roles with both Palm Springs Desert Winds and Greater Palm Springs Pride. Moline founded Palm Springs Desert Winds in 2001, growing the non-profit from 17 musicians into a 115-member community ensemble now celebrating its 25th season, according to Palm Springs Desert Winds. The organization encompasses symphonic, jazz and marching bands affiliated with the Pride Bands Alliance and awards music scholarships to local students. Moline has also worked to establish inclusive musical ensembles in the region.
Why Palm Springs Pride Carries Extra Weight
This year's celebration runs under the official theme “Be Included.” The organization also conducts year-round educational and advocacy work. Ahead of the 40th anniversary, the city also dedicated a permanent public art installation, the Pride Monument, in Frances Stevens Park in October 2025. Organizers use annual themes to frame year-round educational and advocacy work, not just parade weekend.
The scale of the celebration reflects the city's identity. Against that backdrop, the 40th anniversary parade functions as more than a single day's event — it is woven into the identity of a city where Pride has become a year-round civic fixture, from the new monument in Frances Stevens Park to the honorees now carrying its history forward.
Readers interested in more Palm Springs Pride programming can also look ahead to Ty Herndon's book festival set for November 14, part of the broader slate of autumn LGBTQ+ cultural events produced in the city.
