Features

Ramstein hosts 57th annual Bazaar

Story and photos by Senior Airman Thomas Karol
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
October 29, 2021
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Joshua Olson, center, the 86th Airlift Wing commander, installation leaders, and volunteers cut a ribbon at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 20. The Ramstein Bazaar is the largest event of its kind in the Department of Defense and has raised over $400,000 in the past two years for the residents in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

The 86th Force Support Squadron and Ramstein Officers’ Spouses’ Club hosted the 57th Annual Ramstein Bazaar at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 21-24.

The bazaar is hosted every year where vendors sell products to members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community and donate proceeds to the local community. After a year off due to COVID-19, the community was excited for the event’s return.

“The bazaar is a fundraiser that the ROSC puts on every year to help raise money for the scholarship and welfare fund,” said Jennifer Tittle, Ramstein Bazaar Chair. “We use this event to help out the KMC as much as we can and give back to those who give to us.”

The bazaar helps fund many of the events that happen on and around the base throughout the year.

“I think it’s such a big deal because of our impact on the local area,” Tittle said. “We help support sports teams at the school and the schools themselves, the parent teacher associations, holiday parties in the units and scholarships for high school seniors as well as continued education for active duty dependents.”

The bazaar is the biggest event of its kind in the Department of Defense and gives locals a chance to start the holiday season in a positive, family friendly environment.

Tittle said she, the 86th FSS and the ROSC were excited to see everyone come out to enjoy the event and kick off the holiday season on base.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Joshua Olson, the 86th Airlift Wing commander, speaks at the 57th Annual Ramstein Bazaar, at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 20. The Ramstein Bazaar is an event, which brings the local community together to kick off the holiday season.

The bazaar helps the KMC come together and experience an event together as they have done for more than half a century.

“I think the bazaar is such a great event,” said Barbara Olson, the advisor to ROSC. “We’ve had this for 57 years straight and we even have a vendor who has come back for the 50th year. It’s half traditions and comradery for the community to come together and help out a good cause.”

While the event serves the KMC in a variety of ways, none of it would be possible without the team of volunteers making the Bazaar happen.

“We are so proud of everything these volunteers and ROSC members were able to accomplish,” said Cristina Barker, president of ROSC. “We have been planning the bazaar for over eight months and we have seen the ROSC and these volunteers work so hard over such a long period of time to get this thing going. I just want to thank them and say how grateful I am to have them with us.”

To learn more about the Ramstein Bazaar and its positive impact on the local community, visit ramsteinbazaar.org.

Volunteers with the Ramstein Officers Spouses Club gather for the ribbon cutting of the 57th Annual Ramstein Bazaar at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 20. The Ramstein Bazaar is a major fundraising event, which raises funds for base and Department of Defense affiliated organizations.
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