Annual Christmas / Spring Bazaars in Jakarta

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If you love to shop you have come to the right place! Yes, Jakarta really is a shopper's paradise, as many beautiful and unique items can be found here at relatively inexpensive prices. The numerous bazaars organized by groups within the expatriate community provide the best opportunities for finding those special items that you will treasure long after your departure from Indonesia as well as unusual and delightful gifts for friends and family.

Each year the expatriate women's groups put on major crafts bazaars in the months leading up to Christmas just in time for holiday shopping. The second "bazaar season" occurs in May and June before the summer holidays when most expatriates return to their home countries. Though the bazaar is organized by one national group, they are all open to expatriates of all nationalities. Walking around the bazaar is like attending a UN session, with tens of languages spoken amongst the shoppers.

Many different types of goods are for sale at the bazaars, such as clothing, shoes and handbags, jewelry, cushions and cushion covers, housewares, pottery, picture frames, greeting cards, Christmas decorations, toys, and food items. Some of the products are imported from other countries, but the majority are local products and include many varieties of handicrafts such as batik cloths, woven cloths, woodcarvings and basket ware. Because you are often purchasing direct from the manufacturer, or their personal rep, prices are usually MUCH cheaper than in Jakarta's upscale (yet complete) handicraft centers.

Vendors at the bazaars may be individuals, companies or charitable foundations selling products made by disabled or disadvantaged people. The best thing about shopping at the bazaars organized by the expatriate women's associations is that, not only can you shop in a safe and pleasant environment with a wonderful choice of products, but you will have the knowledge that part of the money you spend goes to help social welfare projects in the local community, as the bazaars are some of the major fundraising activities for the organizing expatriate women's group.

Many of the women's groups and other community groups also sell their publications, cards and calendars at the bazaars, so it's a one-stop shop to get many of the excellent printed resources from community groups as well.

The location of the various bazaars are usually 5-star international hotels, or other a safe and pleasant environments so a wonderful lunch after shopping with friends is often on the day's agenda as well.

A big draw at all the bazaars are the excellent raffles/lucky draw/Tombola ... where you can win handicrafts, trips around the archipelago, flights abroad and hotel stays and dinners out on the town. The funds raised by these raffles often go to support the group's Social Welfare projects.

Each group has a different policy (often different from year to year as well), regarding entrance costs. In some cases, it may include a morning tea, in others not. With some organizations members get in free and other expatriate community members pay, with others charging for all entrants. Some groups allow strollers, and others don't. Most have a deposit counter where you can check your shopping bags if your hands get full, and free them up for more shopping!

Bazaars are a big part of the pre-holiday season's festivities each year, and eagerly awaited and enjoyed by the expatriate community at large!

2012 Christmas Bazaar Schedule

We have contacted the women's groups to get their information on 2012 Christmas Bazaars! That information will be posted as soon we receive it!

2011 Christmas Bazaar Schedule

The British Women’s Association (BWA) Christmas Shopping Bazaar will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Grand Kemang Hotel Ballroom, and features 120 great stalls including homemade xmas cakes, jams, crafts, fashions, white elephant, Tombola, and grand raffle. All are welcome, contact 719-5283 for further information.

The traditional German Christmas bazaar or Christkindlmarkt (Die Brucke) will be held on November 19, 2011 at the Hotel Aryaduta Jakarta (near Monas), from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. In the "Futterkrippe" you will find lots of typical German food (Sauerkraut, potato salad, sausages and other meat dishes) and in the "Backstube" lots of delicious, homemade cakes. Lebkuchen and other typical sweets from Germany will be on sale and, in addition, many vendors will offer their products. Look also for Raffle Tickets, Mulled Wine & Sparkling Wine, Typical German Foods, Christmas Decorations & handicrafts, Christmas Cookies and hHomemade cakes.

The American Women’s Association (AWA) holds their Fall Charity Bazaar each year with over 150 vendors offering their wares. The 2010 Bazaar will be held on October 11, 2010 at the Gran Melia Hotel, Kuningan from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Entrance donation: Rp 50,000, includes light snack and coffee/tea. For more information, call the AWA Center at 718-1877.

Jakarta International Community Center (JICC), a multinational club, will hold its 2010 Christmas Bazaar on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Kemang Village, Jl. Pangeran Antasari 36, Kemang. The bazaar will have approximately 120 vendors and will be open from 10:00 am until 5:00pm.

The popular Australian & New Zealand Association (ANZA) bazaar will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on November 8, 2011 . This is one of the biggest bazaars with up to 200 vendors and will provide a great opportunity for buying Indonesian handicrafts, Christmas decorations, and gifts. Lots of attractive prizes will be offered in the raffle and you may be lucky! Contact ANZA for the location.

The Women’s International Club (WIC) Annual Charity Bazaar will be held on December 1st (invitation only) and December 2nd (open to the public) at the Jakarta Convention Center. This bazaar is somewhat different than all of the others as many embassies and national groups participate, selling goods that are specialties from their home countries. The first day of the WIC bazaar is for invited guests and WIC members only and the second day is open to the public.

Bambino Preschool is offering a Charity Bazaar on December 11th at Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 4 in Kebayoran Baru from 10am to 2 pm. Come, enjoy food and drinks, toys, accessories, games, puppet show, kid's clothing, household wares, and more! For more info, call 720-3356.

Jakarta International School (JIS) PTA will organize a Holiday Bazaar for the school community at the Cilandak campus on Saturday, November 21st from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

It sounds as though there will be plenty of opportunities to shop ‘til we drop again this pre-holiday bazaar season!

Contact the women's groups for additional details on their upcoming bazaars.

Spring Bazaars

ANZA Mid-year Bazaar, held in May

How do you find out when the Spring bazaars are scheduled ... and where they'll be. You can call the major women's groups and ask for specifics of their bazaar, or ask friends your know belong to that organization to give you the details from their newsletter. Some of the bazaars are also advertised in the Announcements section of the Jakarta Post Classified, as well as on our Expat Forum Community Events Calendar.

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