LA Lakers Great Tracy Murray Named Grand Marshal

INDIO — The 74th Annual Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, which runs Feb. 14 – 23, has announced former UCLA and NBA star Tracy Murray as Grand Marshal for the Presidents’ Day Parade on Feb. 17.

Murray encourages the public to join him for this grand parade, as it will step down at 9:00 a.m. from the intersection of Miles Avenue and Deglet Noor Street in Indio. The parade route then runs south on Oasis Street followed by West on Highway 111, ultimately ending at the intersection of Rubidoux Street and Highway 111.

Murray played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 1989-1992 and made it to the Pac-10 all-conference team twice. In the first round of the NBA draft in 1992, Murray was selected by the San Antonio Spurs. After joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002, Murray played side-by-side legend Kobe Bryant and will commemorate his NBA friend and teammate by displaying a “mamba flag with numbers 8 & 24” on the rear of his classic black convertible in the Presidents’ Day Parade.

“It’s an honor to be named Grand Marshal of the Riverside County Fair’s Presidents’ Day Parade,” Murray said in a prepared statement.  “It’s also a privilege to also honor the memory of the great Kobe Bryant and recognize the wonderful Lakers organization who both were such an important part of my life and career.”

Murray continued his basketball career as an assistant coach/shooting coach for the Los Angeles Lakers until 2016 where Head Coach Byron Scott described Murray as “one of the purest shooters I’ve ever seen.” These days you will catch Tracy Murray on ABC 7 “Slamdunk Sundays” as a color commentator and as he continues in his Broadcaster role with the UCLA Bruins.

The 74th Annual Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, the desert’s leader in gaming and entertainment. The Fair, in Indio, runs Feb. 14 – 23.  Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m.  Purchase your tickets early to receive them at a discounted price: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for youth, $8 for group tickets or bus tours (minimum of 25), and $22 for Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristbands. For more information, call 800.811.FAIR or click here where you can buy and print your Fair tickets at home.