Holiday Expo at Dena’ina

Important Vendor Information

Here you will find the details you’ll need to know as a Holiday Expo vendor.

Bookmark this page or save the link (https://matsuevents.com/vendorstuff). We will keep it updated with important information as we approach the date for the Holiday Expo..

PARKING

After 5:30 on Friday, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, the large State-owned open parking lot on the SE corner of 8th Avenue and E Street, and the smaller State-owned parking lot on the NW corner are available for free vendor parking. Look for the signs identifying the lots as permitted parking for the Atwood building. NOTE THAT OVERNIGHT PARKING IS NOT ALLOWED IN THESE STATE-OWNED LOTS!

All street parking on Friday after 6:00 pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday is free, however you need to be aware that there is still a two-hour time limit for spaces between 7th and 8th Avenue near the Dena’ina Center. The parking authority will ticket you if parked in these areas more than two hours. Street parking on E, F, G, & H Streets between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue is free for up to ten hours. Make sure you check notices on the parking meters for time limitations to avoid being ticketed.

As a last resort, if you are unable to find street or State employee lot parking, we will provide validated vendor parking for a maximum of one vehicle per vendor booth in the 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue garages, (with entrances on G and H Streets between 6th & 7th Ave). No oversized vehicles or trailers can be taken into the covered garages. Bring your parking ticket to the MATSU Events management office at the front of the display hall for validation.

TV ADVERTISING

The following television ad will begin airing on FOX Alaska and ABC Alaska beginning the end of October:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkcKlCWYZN4

RADIO ADVERTISING

Multiple radio ads are airing on several stations including The Pass 95.5, KBEAR 104.1, KOOL 97.3, MIX 103.1, and KWHL 106.5

Radio Ad #1

Radio Ad #2

Radio Ad #3

POSTERS AND DIGITAL MEDIA

11” x 17” event posters are available. Let us know if you want posters to place in your store windows or on bulletin boards.

Click on either of the poster images below for full-resolution images to print out or to include on your social media pages. The smaller image has a 4:5 aspect ratio that is better suited for Facebook or Instagram posts.

Please feel free to use any of these images for your own advertising or in social media posts.

DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS

Like at last year’s Holiday Expo, we will be drawing ticket numbers to give away vendor-donated door prizes every hour throughout the weekend. Visitors love the chance to go home with a nice door prize, plus it gives them incentive to remain a little longer at the Expo, spending more time at your booth(!) as they wait until the top of the hour for the next prize drawing.

There is no obligation for you to donate anything, so don’t feel the pressure. However, this is your chance to be as generous as you wish. Prizes can be large or small: Tee shirts, ball caps, gift certificates, candy, food, artwork, Christmas decorations, a new snow machine …or whatever! When the drawings are held, our announcer will take a minute to put in a blurb about your company and the items you are offering at the Expo. Whether your donation is one of your products, or something else, one of our visitors is guaranteed go home happy with your donated prize!

Your donated items can be dropped off during the Expo at our office, located inside, near the entrance into the exhibit hall. 

VENDOR SETUP

Vendor setup for the Expo will begin at 12:00 noon on Friday, November 17th, and you will have until 8:00 pm to work on setting up your booth. The Dena’ina will reopen again for setup at 7:00 am on Saturday. You must have your booth space configured and ready for business by no later than 9:30 on Saturday. Doors open to the public at 10:00 am.

On Friday from noon until 4:30, you will be able to drive your vehicle into the Dena’ina Center through the large 8th Avenue overhead door and drive along the back wall towards the F Street exit door. Park your vehicle just long enough to unload. Handcarts will be available to help move items from your vehicle to your booth, and we will have staff available as well to help you move items. Please do not remain inside the Dena’ina with your vehicle any longer than necessary, as there will be a lot of vendors waiting behind you to do the same thing.

As requested by the Dena’ina Center, please DO NOT use the front (7th Avenue) Dena’ina entrance doors to load items to or from your booth.

The last pipe and drape booth space of each row will not be set up until 4:30 on Friday to allow room for vehicles to drive in and then out onto F Street. If you are in one of the booths located at the very end of any of the booth rows (see list below), you will need to wait until after 4:30 to set up.

310 – Soda Jerk

296 – Charlie Moore

282,268 – Alaskan Sweet Things

254 – Fox Sauce

240 – Aunt Phil’s Trunk

226 – Miracles In Alaska

212 – Madrid Knives       

198 – P & M Garden

184 – Denali Tactical Knives

170 – Tundra Comics

156 – Wendy Bags & Creations

142 – Leftover Treasures

128 – Alaska Metal Arts

After 5:00 on Friday, vendors will still be able to drive into the Dena’ina, but you must enter and exit through the 8th Avenue overhead door.

CHECK IN

At some point during your booth setup, please stop by the MATSU Events management office, located just inside the display hall near the main lobby entrance door. Let us know that you have arrived, and pick up your vendor packet, lanyards, and nametags. If you have an item that you wish to donate for the hourly door prize drawings, there is a donation form included in your vendor packet. Drop off the form and your donation with staff in our management office.

EXTRA BOOTH ITEMS

Do you need extra items such as tables, carpeting, racks and stands, plants, or other items to furnish your booth?

Well don’t worry, because we have you covered! As our Expo decorator and service contractor. Alaska Event Services, Inc. has the items you need. 

If you require additional services such as electrical service, tables, etc., please place your order via https://alaskaeventservices.com/exhibit-order-form/2023-holiday-expo-at-denaina-copy/

If you have any questions, please contact Alaska Event Services Representatives at (907) 345-8789, or email at info@alaskaeventservices.com.

GIFTWRAPPING

The Alaska Firecrackers girls fastpitch softball team will be set up in the Dena’ina lobby providing giftwrapping services as a team fundraiser.

BOOTH PAYMENT

If you still have an outstanding balance on your booth space rental, this is just a reminder that full payment is due by October 20th. If your deposit was paid by credit card, any balance due will be automatically charged to that card on the 20th.

QUESTIONS / CONCERNS / COMMENTS

Call anytime if you have questions or comments. 907-947-9900 or matt@matsuevents.com