As a visiting group from Germany (or Austria/Switzerland)
Every year in September, up to 50 groups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland – and even German groups from other countries – march in the German-American Steuben Parade. If your music or dance group, your carnival club, your group in historic tracht or uniform is interested in marching in the Parade, we are more than happy to invite you. Please introduce yourself in a letter and send it together with a group photo and any other suitable media (CD, DVD) to the Parade Committee at the address given below. Official invitations go out in November for the Parade in the coming year.
Once invited, you will receive detailed information about the upcoming Parade. This includes the date, the cost, the schedule of events and all forms necessary for your successful trip to New York.
An invitation to the German-American Steuben Parade does NOT include any financial help. The Parade is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers and has no budget to support groups marching in the Parade. No exceptions can be made. However, we will send a confirmation letter that might be useful when applying for grants from your home state. In past years, many clubs have been financially supported by their states. The Steuben Parade does not guarantee, though, that you will be eligible or that any funds will be distributed in futures years.
As a rule-of-thumb you should plan to spend about $800 to $1,000 per person in your group, including airfare, four nights in a hotel (2-4 person), and possibly transportation and some sightseeing. A good way for a club to raise money to travel to the Parade might be to talk to local companies and solicit sponsorships or arrange for one or more benefit concerts. Be creative – and we will see you in New York.
As a German-American group from within the United States
The German-American Steuben Parade was founded in 1957 by German-American clubs and these clubs are still the backbone of this annual tradition. Aside from all the clubs from the Greater New York region who march regularly, German-American clubs from all parts of the United States have been marching up Fifth Avenue in the past, including groups from Texas, California, Florida and Wisconsin.
If you are interested in joining us, introduce yourself in a letter, and send it together with a group photo and any other suitable media (CD, DVD) to the Parade Committee at the address given below. Official invitations go out in November for the Parade in the coming year.
Once invited, you will receive detailed information about the upcoming Parade. This includes a full schedule of events and all forms necessary for your successful trip to New York.
An invitation to the German-American Steuben Parade does NOT include any financial help. The Parade is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers and has no budget to support groups marching in the Parade. No exceptions can be made. However, we can refer you to some travel agents, who have organized Steuben Parade trips in the past and are known to the committee to offer great value deals on hotels and airfare. The Parade will not be involved in any contracts made between your club and third parties.
Live in the NYC Area? Become a Steuben Parade Volunteer or Committee Member
The Parade and associated events can’t happen without the many outstanding volunteers who work tirelessly to help us deliver the BEST of our German heritage each September. Of course, the more volunteer support we receive, the better the end result.
The monthly Parade meetings take place at the Liederkranz on Tuesday evenings at 7pm. Many of our meetings are also held on ZOOM. If you are interested in a volunteer position, please email Chairman@
Therefore, we ask you, or someone you may know, to consider joining one of our Committees:
– Day of Volunteers – Standing along the Parade route to help with traffic flow, checking in people in the Grandstands and more
– Souvenir Committee – Parade Day Volunteers