Westviertel District Festival Jena
24th District Festival with Maypole Raising and Sports Program — Westsportplatz
About Westfest Jena
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24th District Festival in Jena's Westviertel
The Westfest (officially "Westfe(tz)st") is the traditional district festival of Jena's Westviertel — one of the most densely populated residential areas in the university city. The 24th edition takes place on Saturday, April 25th, and Sunday, April 26th, 2026, at the Westsportplatz. The organizer is the Initiative Westsportplatz e.V., a dedicated association that maintains the sports ground as a meeting point for the district and has been organizing the season opening and district festival for years.
Maypole Raising as Kick-off
The highlight on Saturday is the raising of the first two Maypoles of the Jena season. A small Maypole is decorated by the children themselves — the large Maypole is a team effort between the city, the forestry office, the volunteer fire department, florists, and municipal service providers. Around 12:30 PM, the local Sparkasse branch will hand over a donation check for the further enhancement of the sports facility.
Sports, Games, and Family Activities
The weekend is focused on sports and family: On Saturday, there will be beach volleyball games for recreational athletes, as well as skill competitions like XXL football darts and ladder golf. Sunday is dedicated to sports competitions, with a hobby football tournament and more beach volleyball. For children, there is a craft street, a cargo slide, a renovated trampoline, and bouncy castles, as well as small catering options.
Jena — University City in the Saale Valley
Jena in the state of Thuringia is a university city and a center of science (Friedrich Schiller University, Carl Zeiss, Jenoptik) — and at the same time, with 110,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in Thuringia after Erfurt. The Westviertel is one of the four traditional city districts and the most densely populated residential area — the Initiative Westsportplatz is dedicated to preserving the Westsportplatz as a social meeting point in the heart of the district.
Westfest Jena — edition 2026
April 25th and 26th, 2026 — 24th District Festival
The Westfest 2026 takes place on the weekend of April 25th and 26th. The Initiative Westsportplatz e.V. invites you to the traditional season opening at the Westsportplatz in Jena's Westviertel. Both days have different focuses — Saturday focuses on tradition (Maypole) and family, Sunday on sports competitions.
Maypole and Donation Check Handover
The highlight on Saturday is the raising of the first two Jena Maypoles: a small one, decorated by children with ribbons and paper ornaments, and a large one that requires teamwork — the city administration, the forestry office, the Westviertel volunteer fire department, a local florist, and municipal service providers work together. Around 12:30 PM, the Sparkasse branch Westbahnhof will hand over a donation check for the further enhancement of the sports facility.
Programme Westfest Jena 2026
Program Highlights 2026 — 24th Westviertel District Festival
- Saturday, April 25th, 2026:
- 10:00 AM: Opening with craft street, bouncy castles, cargo slide, and trampoline for children
- Children decorate the small Maypole
- approx. 12:30 PM: Donation check handover by Sparkasse Jena Westbahnhof
- Afternoon: Raising of the large Maypole (teamwork city, forestry office, fire department, florists)
- Sports competitions: Beach Volleyball, XXL Football Darts, Ladder Golf
- Sunday, April 26th, 2026:
- Morning: Beach Volleyball tournament for recreational athletes
- Afternoon: Hobby Football Tournament
- Family activities, refreshments at the stands
- Food: Sausages, snacks, drinks at the club stands
- Organizer: Initiative Westsportplatz e.V. with Frank Kramer (Chairman)
Current information: westsportplatz.de. Report: jenaer-nachrichten.de.
Highlights Westfest Jena 2026
- Raising of the first two Jena Maypoles
- Children decorate the small Maypole
- Beach Volleyball, XXL Football Darts, Ladder Golf
- Hobby Football Tournament on Sunday
- Craft street, bouncy castle, trampoline for children
- Donation check handover by Sparkasse
Prices Westfest Jena 2026
Free admission. Food available for donations at the local club stands.
Practical information — Westfest Jena
Date 2026
Saturday, April 25th, and Sunday, April 26th, 2026.
Opening
Saturday, 10:00 AM.
Maypole Raising
Saturday — the time for the large Maypole raising will be announced on site.
Location
Westsportplatz, Westbahnhofstraße, 07745 Jena (Westviertel).
Getting There
By car: A4 exit Jena-Lobeda, then drive into the city towards Westviertel. By public transport: Westbahnhof Jena (S-Bahn line Halle-Saalfeld), then a 5-minute walk.
Admission
Free.
Tip
Combine your visit to the festival with a walk in Paradies (park on the Saale riverbank) or the Carl Zeiss Planetarium (15-minute walk).
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Westfest Jena al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Westfest Jena
Westsportplatz Jena
Westbahnhofstraße, 07745 Jena