Even without a band and the traditional children’s flea market, the Weststadtfest on Wilhelmsplatz was well attended. Photo: Hentschel
–
From Peter Wiest
Heidelberg. No, Peter is not necessarily a Weststadt native. But it could have been worse at the Weststadtfest, which took place on Saturday on Wilhelmsplatz. The rain in the afternoon did not stop, but it did not last long. The Weststadtfest has a long tradition: the last summer holiday weekend has been celebrated for fifty years – with the exception of 2020, when the festival had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The visitors had to forego the live music and the popular children’s flea market again this time, but the atmosphere was good during the day and even lively in the evening.
“It was worth it for that alone,” said the visibly satisfied District association chairmen Marlen Pankonin when looking at the business inside the fenced area around 7.30 p.m. when almost all the benches were occupied. After the downpours in the afternoon, the square filled up quickly from 6.30 p.m. and there was a great rush. “People just enjoy being able to sit here and talk again,” said Pankonin. And they had also brought plenty of appetite with them, the people of Weststadt and their friends: the helpers who took care of the hungry guests had to fetch supplies by 7:00 p.m. then two more times.
Not to skip the festival again this year was such an all-round good decision, as was heard again and again from all the guests on Wilhelmsplatz. One or the other regretted that there was no live music; However, everyone was happy to finally be able to celebrate together again on a larger scale under the premise of the so-called 3G regulation. And the fact that they had to provide proof of vaccination, convalescence or a negative corona test in advance at the entrance didn’t bother almost anyone – especially since, according to the estimate of the entrance inspectors, well over 90 percent of the visitors were vaccinated.
A total of around 60 helpers from the district association were already busy setting up the “Willi” from 8 a.m. on Saturday. There the place was fenced off with bars. The beer tables and benches had to be brought from Bammental. “It was all very time-consuming,” said the chairwoman of the district association, “but our helpers got it under control and achieved really great things”. Numerous people responded to a call for participation by the district association beforehand, although it was noticeable, according to Pankonin, that these were mostly older people: “A few stronger younger ones would have been good”.
The fact that there was no live music this year, according to the district association chairman and the association’s advisory board member Matthias Württemberger, is also due to the fact that a live act with a view to the pandemic regulations would have required personalized tickets for the guests, which means a considerable additional effort would have. The already traditional children’s flea market in front of Wilhelmsplatz had also been canceled as part of the pandemic regulations.
The information boards of the action alliance also met with great interest at the festival.Our beautiful Willi “, an amalgamation of associations, initiatives, organizations and citizens who want to make Wilhelmsplatz more attractive and develop it further. The alliance has already achieved initial successes, for example with the installation of benches donated by the forestry department on the square. “But there is still a lot to do,” said Marlen Pankonin: “We are at the beginning of a marathon here.”
Political celebrities also insisted on being there on Wilhelmsplatz. For example, the outgoing CDU member of the Bundestag, Karl A. Lamers, who “will certainly continue to be present at this wonderful festival every year,” as he emphasized. For the coming year, Lamers can look forward to a very special anniversary with all residents of Weststadt. Then the Weststadtfest will take place for the 50th time, hopefully again for three days and with a live program. “We will do everything we can to make it a bit more colorful and louder again,” promised Marlen Pankonin with a view to September 2022.
–
