Herbstzauber in Westend (Preußenallee)

Westend — A Berlin Gem of Bourgeois Charm

Westend is a district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough, often overlooked by tourists — and precisely for that reason, it has retained its Berlin charm. Villa-lined streets, imperial-era city villas, the adjacent Olympic Stadium, the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, and Charlottenburg Palace within reach: Westend is a classic, affluent neighborhood with a green character. Preußenallee is its main artery — a wide, tree-lined avenue bordered by cafés, small galleries, and the Catholic Church of St. Canisius.

The Herbstzauber: Arts and Crafts in the Neighborhood

Twice a year — in spring ("Frühlingszauber") and late summer ("Herbstzauber") — the non-profit association Family & Friends e.V. transforms Preußenallee into an art mile. Over 70 artists and craftspeople set up their stalls — from pottery kilns firing live to fashion designers sewing their creations right at the stand. Strolling down the avenue, visitors can witness the creative process: painters at their easels, jewelry designers in their workshops, sculptors working with wood and stone.

More Than a Market: Atmosphere and Program

Two stages feature a program of live music (in previous years, including the Düsseldorf cover band Four Shops, the children's choir Die Kinder of the Hasenschule, and street theater by Gilbert le Saltimbanque du Paradis). Culinary offerings include classic stalls — bratwurst, crêpes, mulled wine in late summer, coffee, and cake — alongside small specialties from local Westend eateries. The family program includes face painting, craft activities, and school choirs.

Who Supports the Festival

The organizer is the association Family & Friends e.V., which has been dedicated to the local culture in Westend for years — and also organizes the Frühlingszauber in May/June. The festival is supported by the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf; admission remains free. Within the state of Berlin, Herbstzauber Westend is one of the larger neighborhood festivals with a focus on arts and crafts — similar, but smaller and more atmospheric than the Berliner Kunstallee Charlottenburg or the Suarezstraße antique market.