The Steuben Parade was the grand finale to a week-long celebration of German culture in New York city that saw New Yorkers consuming unusual amounts of spatzle, wurst and beer at local restaurants and bars. The annual event recognizes nearly 70 million Americans with German heritage for their civic-mindedness, their contributions to the development the United States, and their vibrant culture.

Following the start of the city’s official Oktoberfest celebration at the South Street Seaport on Friday, the parade kicked off Saturday at noon on 63rd Street, progressing along 5th Avenue through 86th Street. The festivities commenced in an area of the city called "Yorkville," once home to the city’s largest German immigrant population.

This year’s event held true to its German traditions, leading the New York Post to call it "one of the best organized parades in New York City."

Miss German-America 2004 Christine Joan Friedrich was on hand with her court to lead the parade. Friedrich, who majors in Business Management at Stony Brook University, set up a World Trade Center Relief center in her school and helped collect donations for the Red Cross after the September 11th attacks.

The parade takes its name from Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, an early German-American who helped George Washington lead his troops to victory during the Revolutionary War. Born in Prussia in 1730, von Steuben had an illustrious military career and spent time on Frederick the Great’s general staff before joining in the war efforts in the American colonies. Steuben was one of Washington’s most trusted generals. A masterful military tactician, he trained countless American regiments — despite not speaking any English and having to rely on an interpreter.