• The 55th annual German-American Steuben Parade of New York on Saturday, September 15 will be broadcast on local PBS stations WNET thirteen and WLIW21 and - in a historic first - via live stream at Germany.info, the official website of the German diplomatic missions in the United States.

Enlarge image In a dramatic stunt that had been a year in the making, tightrope walker Nik Wallenda crosses the Niagara Falls on a wire on June 15, 2012. (© picture-alliance/Photoshot)

Two athletic icons to lead parade up Fifth Avenue

Two Grand Marshals will lead the parade up Fifth Avenue: Nik Wallenda, the "King of the High Wire" and seventh generation member of the great Wallenda family hailing from Magdeburg, Germany, and Norbert Schramm, the German Olympic figure skater who has been dubbed the "World's Best Ice Entertainer."

Ambassador Ammon to attend gala and parade

German Ambassador Peter Ammon will be among the guests at the Steuben Parade Gala on Friday, September 14, which will also be attended by both Grand Marshals, as well as many prominent members of the German-American community.

• How to view the Parade on TV and at Germany.info
  
• You can watch the Steuben Parade live on local PBS affiliate station WNET thirteen and on Sunday, September 16, on WLIW21 in the New York area, or via live stream from anywhere in the world at Germany.info.
• To find out if any other regional PBS affiliates anywhere else in the United States might also broadcast the parade, please contact the PBS station closest to you and recommend it air the German-American Steuben Parade of New York live on Saturday, September 15, 2012 (or thereafter as a repeat).
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Enlarge image German Olympic figure skater and ice entertainer Norbert Schramm. (© picture-alliance/Sven Simon)

"This elegant, black-tie affair includes a cocktail hour, four-course dinner, entertainment by 'Spitze,' as well as a special dance performance by the 'Ehrengarde der Stadt Köln,'" said Lars Halter, General Chairman of the German-American Steuben Parade of New York.

"The 'Infinity' will also cruise around Manhattan during dinner, offering sensational views of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty," he added.

'Think Transatlantic' float to provide German beats

Among the many German-American groups, performers and businesses which take part in the annual parade will be a 'Think Transatlantic' float - symbolically represented as a bridge between Germany and the United States - sponsored by the German Information Center USA at the German Embassy in Washington. It will broadcast a lively soundtrack of danceable German tunes and feature festive, footloose folks from the German National Tourist Office.

At the same time, anyone will be able to test their knowledge of transatlantic relations by taking a quiz related to the Think Transatlantic float launched at Germany.info on September 14. US citizens can moreover win some great prizes from the GIC if they score highly on the quiz.

The German Consulate in New York also sponsors a fun float every year at the Steuben Parade celebrating different German-American themes. This year the German Consulate float celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Brothers Grimm, whose legendary fairytales continue to enchant millions of people all over the world.

• Good times guaranteed at Oktoberfest in Central Park
• Tickets are already sold out for the tremendously popular annual Oktoberfest held in Central Park right after the parade ends. A few tickets may however still be available for sale on site. (Visit the Steuben Parade website for more information.)
  

Empire State Building illuminated in black, red and gold

The Steuben Parade is moreover part of a wider German-American Friendship Month, which was opened this year on September 10 by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and German Consul General Busso von Alvensleben in the German House in New York.

Many related cultural events take place during this month of festivities, during which the Empire State Building is often lit up in black, red and gold - the colors of the German flag. This year it was lit up before the Steuben Parade on September 13.