Ramstein Bazaar coming Sept. 14 to 17

by Rebecca Brokaw
Marketing Chair, Ramstein Bazaar and Airman 1st Class Milton Hamilton 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Photo by 86th Force Support Squadron

Ramstein is scheduled to host its 53rd Annual Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 to 16, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17, on the Ramstein flightline. The event, hosted by the 86th Force Support Squadron in partnership with the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club, is one of the most anticipated happenings of the year, according to event organizers.

To accommodate a large crowd the event will be held in Hangar 1, Hangar 2, and in a large tent on the flightline.

This four-day shopping event allows more than 130 vendors to display their merchandise to Department of Defense and North Atlantic Treaty Organization ID card holders. An ID card is required for purchasing. The bazaar accepts Visa, Master Card, checks and U.S. dollars for all purchases.

The vendors are the reason customers come out, but the event would not be as successful without its many volunteers.

“The Ramstein Bazaar is the culmination of nine months of planning and hundreds of hours of volunteer work to provide maximal fun and diversity for the shoppers, with the satisfaction of knowing the proceeds directly support our military community,” said Mary Waibel, 2017 Ramstein Bazaar co-chair.

Volunteers are still needed for the event and can sign up on ramsteinbazaar.org, under the “Ways to Help” tab. All volunteers must be DOD ID card holders and be at least 16 years old. Volunteers are eligible for special accommodations during the bazaar to include “Red Carpet Shopping” before the event opens, according to organizers.

While shopping at the Bazaar is one of the highlights, eating at the Bazaar is a close second. More than 25 private organizations will be serving up food items such as: freshly squeezed lemonade, lumpia, funnel cakes, and much more.

“Last year the Bazaar raised more than $277,000 and 100 percent of that is going back to the Kaiserslautern Military Community,” said Kim D’Ippolito, 2017 Ramstein Bazaar co-chair. “These funds help many in the KMC to include schools, youth programs, sports, and military organizations.”

The Bazaar staff encourages all eligible parties to come grab a bite to eat, buy a few things and help support the private organizations from all around the KMC community.