Honorary Chairman:
The Honorable Michael Nutter
Mayor of Philadelphia

President and General Chairman:
Al Taubenberger

Acting General Chairman:
Lou Oschmann

Honorary Presidents:
Hans J. Beyer and Bruno Karnas

The 41st Annual German - American Steuben Parade will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Parade day festivities will begin with the traditional Ecumenical Service, Parade and Oktoberfest. Keep an eye on this page for further details as information becomes available.

Grand Marshal
 

This year's Grand Marshal is Colonel Eric S. Gartner, USAF a Special Agent with the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). He was born in Nuernberg, Germany, and raised in Delaware County, PA. Commissioned in 1990, Colonel Gartner has held multiple command and staff positions worldwide, including two tours with combatant commands, and a command in Frankfurt, Germany. He is currently serving as the OSI Region 8 Vice Commander, responsible for OSI units supporting the USAF's Space Command and Global Strike Command. Colonel Gartner graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from Earlham College, Richmond IN; he has Masters Degrees from the University of Delaware, the Air Command and Staff College, and the National War College (Distinguished Graduate), Washington DC. Colonel Gartner currently resides in Colorado Springs, CO, with his wife Diane, and their four children.

Associated Parade Festivities:
 

The following events are scheduled for the weekend of our 41^st Annual Parade:

• Friday, September 23, 2011

  • Steuben Parade Gala Banquet
    Featuring this year's Grand Marshal
    Live music and dancing
    7:00PM - United German Hungarian Club
    Additional information will be posted shortly.
   

• Saturday, September 24, 2011

  • Ecumenical Service
    10:00AM - Saint Mathew's Catholic Church
    (3001 Cottman Avernue, at Battersby Street)
  • German - American Steuben Parade
    12:00PM - Frankford Avenue from Rhawn Street to below Cottman Avenue.
  • Oktoberfest
    Following the Parade at the Bavarian Volksfest Verein on the grounds of the United German-Hungarian Club.
   

• Sunday, September 25, 2011

  • Oktoberfest
    The Oktoberfest continues at the Bavarian Volksfest Verein on the grounds of the United German-Hungarian Club.

Participants
 

The following groups will be participating in our parade:

• 98th Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers, Company A
  

• Northeast High School Marching Band
  

• GTV Almrausch German Folk Dancers
  

• Father Judge High School
  

• United German Hungarians German Folk Dancers
  

• World's Largest Tricycle:
  German - American Tricentennial 12-seat bike
  

Parade Route:
 

Formation will be in the front schoolyard of the Brown Elementary School at 3600 Stanwood Street (corner or Stanwood Street and Frankford Avenue). Note: Marchers can park in the rear schoolyard accessible from Craig Street, which is one-way south bound off of Stanwood Street. The Parade will begin by marching south on Frankford Avenue beginning at Rhawn Street. It will continue down Frankford Avenue to Saint Vincent Street (2 blocks south of Cottman Avenue). Please note that the reviewing area will be at the corner of Frankford and Ryan Avenues.

Directions
 

St. Matthew's Church and the parade route are within easy driving distance from most areas of the Delaware Valley.

• By Car:

  From the North:

  • Get onto I-95 South
  • Exit at the Cottman Avenue exit
  • Stay straight to go onto Wissinoming Street
  • Turn slight right onto Cottman Avenue
    • Church: Proceed to Battersby Street - Church is on the left side on Cottman Avenue
    • Parade: Proceed to Frankford Avenue. Turn right and proceed to Welsh Road for beginning of parade. Turn left and proceed to Saint Vincent Street for the end of parade. The reviewing stand is two blocks north at Frankford and Ryan Avenues.

  From the South:

  • Get onto I-95 North
  • Take the Cottman Avrnue exit toward PA-73
  • Turn slight left onto Cottman Avenue
    • Church: Proceed to Battersby Street - Church is on the left side on Cottman Avenue
    • Parade: Proceed to Frankford Avenue. Turn right and proceed to Welsh Road for beginning of parade. Turn left and proceed to Saint Vincent Street for the end of parade. The reviewing stand is two blocks north at Frankford and Ryan Avenues.

  From the East:

  • Get onto I-676 West
  • Cross the Delaware River using the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
  • Follow signs for I-676 West
  • Merge onto I-95 N toward Trenton
  • Take the Cottman Avenue exit toward PA-73
  • Turn slight left onto Cottman Avenue
    • Church: Proceed to Battersby Street - Church is on the left side on Cottman Avenue
    • Parade: Proceed to Frankford Avenue. Turn right and proceed to Welsh Road for beginning of parade. Turn left and proceed to Saint Vincent Street for the end of parade. The reviewing stand is two blocks north at Frankford and Ryan Avenues.

  From the West:

  • Get onto I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway)
  • Merge onto US-1 N via exit number 340B toward Roosevelt Boulevard
  • Turn slight right onto North Roosevelt Boulevard
  • Turn right onto Cottman Avenue (PA-73)
    • Church: Proceed to Battersby Street - Church is on the right side on Cottman Avenue
    • Parade: Proceed to Frankford Avenue. Turn right and proceed to Welsh Road for beginning of parade. Turn left and proceed to Saint Vincent Street for the end of parade. The reviewing stand is two blocks north at Frankford and Ryan Avenues.
      
  NOTE: There is ample free parking on side streets along the parade route.
  
  

• By Public Transportation:

  The Parade route along Frankford Avenue is serviced by SEPTA Route 66 bus and many other routes. An easy transfer to the Route 70 bus at Frankford Ave and Cottman Avenue will take you to Saint Mathew's Catholic Church. For further information, go to: www.septa.org.