It’s time to shop: Ramstein Bazaar is here

Courtesy of the Ramstein Bazaar
Courtesy photo Shoppers check out items offered at the Ramstein Bazaar in September 2014.
Courtesy photo
Shoppers check out items offered at the Ramstein Bazaar in September 2014.

The Ramstein Bazaar has been a staple event at Ramstein Air Base since 1965 more than half century. Since its inception, the bazaar has been the place to find one-of-a-kind treasures. The four-day event, which began Sept. 17 and continues through Sunday, is held only once a year and promises to be the place to shop in Europe this season.

Vendors travel from all over Europe, the United Kingdom and other countries to showcase their goods and craftsmanship. This year, the bazaar has 129 talented craftsmen, artists and collectors featuring their products and merchandise from around the world. There are ten major shopping categories at the bazaar: wine, liquor and beer, clothes and shoes, art and collectibles, pottery, jewelry, furniture, home items and toys.

Many vendors at the bazaar have been attending the event year after year. There are a handful of vendors that have attended the bazaar for more than 40 years, while other vendors are new on the scene. This year, there are 23 new vendors that have joined the event. They offer unique delicacies, hand crafted items, art, furniture, craft beers, wine, handcrafted toys, handmade leather items and more.

Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield Anne Wormack, vendor at the Ramstein Bazaar, sets out Celtic jewelry before patrons come to shop on Ramstein Sept. 20, 2014.
Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
Anne Wormack, vendor at the Ramstein Bazaar, sets out Celtic jewelry before patrons come to shop on Ramstein Sept. 20, 2014.

Visiting and shopping with all of the vendors benefits our community. Net proceeds from the Ramstein Bazaar are returned to the KMC through the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club Welfare Fund benefiting local organizations such as Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House, USO, Department of Defense Education Activity schools, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and other local programs to include scholarships. Supporting and shopping at the Ramstein Bazaar is not only a fun experience with incredible vendors and food, but shoppers are financially helping hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and their families.

The bazaar is an official 86th Force Support Squadron event, produced by the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club. The bazaar takes place on the Ramstein flightline.

For more information, visit the www.ramsteinbazaar.org.

Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield Ramstein Bazaar volunteers set out Polish pottery Sept. 20, 2014, on Ramstein.
Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
Ramstein Bazaar volunteers set out Polish pottery Sept. 20, 2014, on Ramstein.
Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield Andrea Noggle, vendor at last year’s Ramstein Bazaar, prepares French painted vintage items before the start of the event. The bazaar celebrated its 50th anniversary last year by hosting more than 28,000 patrons from around the KMC and more than 160 vendors from around Europe.
Photo by Senior Airman Holly Mansfield
Andrea Noggle, vendor at last year’s Ramstein Bazaar, prepares French painted vintage items before the start of the event. The bazaar celebrated its 50th anniversary last year by hosting more than 28,000 patrons from around the KMC and more than 160 vendors from around Europe.