Von Steuben Day

Von Steuben Day Parade

Von Steuben Day is a holiday traditionally held on a weekend in mid-September (von Steuben was born September 17), celebrating Baron Friedrich von Steuben, who arrived in the United States as a volunteer offering his services to General George Washington, and is generally considered the German-American event of the year. Participants march, dance, and play music.

Steuben Parade in New York

While Steuben Day is celebrated in many cities all across the United States, the largest crowds gather in New York City. Every year on the third Saturday in September, German-Americans celebrate the Annual Steuben Parade on Fifth Avenue and an Oktoberfest-style beer fest complete with food and live music in Central Park. The Parade was founded in 1957 and has grown into one of the largest celebrations of German and German-American culture in the United States.[1] In 2010, the Parade was held on September 25.[2]

In 2007, German-Americans celebrated the 50th Anniversary of this affair and welcomed former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as Grand Marshal and former German chancellor Helmut Kohl as Guest of Honor.

Von Steuben Day in pop culture

The Chicago version of the parade was incorporated into the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, even though the movie's plot indicates that Ferris is taking advantage of his "ninth sick day" of the school semester. Other movie details indicate the day takes place near the end of the school year, not in September, and not on a Saturday.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Von Steuben Day.

References

  1. ↑ NYC Steuben Parade Site
  2. ↑ NYC Steuben Parade Site

Coordinates: 40°46′28″N 73°57′56″W / 40.77444°N 73.96556°W / 40.77444; -73.96556

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