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German-American Parade to Bring Floats, Lederhosen and Oktoberfest Party

By Shaye Weaver | September 9, 2015 1:32pm
 The German-American Steuben Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The German-American Steuben Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, Sept. 19.
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germanparadenyc.org

UPPER EAST SIDE — Ushering in Oktoberfest — a two-week celebration of the German culture and its offerings, the German-American Steuben Parade is coming back to Fifth Avenue.

The 58th annual parade itself on Sept. 19 will feature roughly 30 colorful floats and 300 groups from around the country and the world. Festivities celebrating the German heritage will continue through the weekend, including a black-tie benefit and an Oktoberfest party in Central Park.

Following the parade, six trucks full of imported beer will be on tap and wurst will be for sale at the grounds of the Summer Stage near East 72nd Street. In addition, 13 strong-armed people will compete in the Seventh Annual U.S. National Masskkrugstemmen, or stein holding, Championship. Whomever holds his or her stein of beer the longest wins.

Those who have competed from across the U.S. will go head-to-head for the title of U.S. national champion and win a week-long trip to Munich.

This year's festivities will begin on Friday with the welcoming of German, Austrian and Swiss groups at 11 a.m. at East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue, and at a 7 p.m. black-tie gala to raise money for the parade, which will take place at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, according to Lenny Coyne, the emcee and spokesman for the parade's organizers.

On Saturday, a 9 a.m. mass, featuring a full orchestra, will be held at St. Patrick's Cathedral before the parade, which will kick off at noon. The parade starts at East 68th Street and finish about an hour and a half later at East 86th Street, which was once known as "Sauerkraut Boulevard" for its many German restaurants and dance halls.

This year's grand marshals, actor John Ratzenberger, TV news anchor Contessa Brewer and the former mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, who is visiting from Germany, will lead the procession. They'll be followed by Miss German-America, Samantha Hart from CT, pipe and drum bands, marching bands, and many local and international organizations, many of whom will be dressed in lederhosen, according to Coyne.

Previous grand marshals of the parade include Henry Kissinger, Donald Trump, travel expert Samantha Brown and sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Coyne said. This year's grand marshals were selected based on their German heritage, which is different than in past years, he said.

"We thought we'd cross the big pond — bring somebody from overseas," he said about the selection. "This is one of the most beautiful parades in the entire city," he said. "We have almost 30 floats depicting everything, from the building of the Brooklyn Bridge by the Roebling family, and so many other stories."

The German-American Steuben Parade will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, from noon to 2:30 p.m., on Fifth Avenue from East 67th Street to 86th Street.

Visit the parade's website for more information.