The Alaska Wave & Wheel Expo is an opportunity for Alaskan consumers to find the vehicles and floating rigs they’re looking for. Whether visitors are in the market for boats, all terrain vehicles, recreational vehicles, campers, snowmachines, personal watercraft, motorcycles, or other outdoor toys and accessories, the Alaska Wave and Wheel Expo is where they can go to gear up for their outdoor transportation needs.

The Alaska Wave & Wheel Expo is at the Menard Sports and Recreation Center in Wasilla, Alaska, the weekend of May 9-10, 2026. There are over 90,000 square feet of display space, with vendors and vehicles both inside and outside the Menard Center.

There are two large indoor vendor display arenas: the hockey rink (concrete floor, free of ice), and the soccer field (AstroTurf flooring).  An additional 50,000 square feet of display space is also available outside.

Indoor Space

• 10 x 10 vendor booth with pipes & drapes and electricity : $450
• 500 to 1,900 square feet: $3.50/SF
• 2,000 to 3,400 square feet: $2.50/SF
• 3,500 to 4,900 square feet: $1.50/SF
• Larger than 5,000 square feet: $0.90/SF

Outdoor Bulk Space

• Food truck: $350
• 1,000 to 4,900 square feet: $1.50/SF
• Larger than 5000 square feet: $0.80/SF

Pipe and drape separations and electrical hookups are provided at no charge for 10×10 vendor booths, but are not provided for bulk display spaces. However, these are available for an additional fee for larger displays. A limited number of outdoor food truck spaces are available for $350. Food vendors are required to provide a certificate of insurance with MATSU Events LLC additionally insured as certificate holder. They are also required to have an appropriate DEC permit.

All vendors are responsible for their own booth furnishings, signs, etc. If you prefer to rent items such as tables and chairs, contact Special Events Alaska, our expo decorators at (907) 357-7368. Indoor booth spaces are 10′ wide by 10′ deep, with pipes and drapes separating you from adjacent booths. (8’ high back drape and 3’ side drapes).

Electricity is included at no additional charge for 10 x 10 vendor booths.  Metal hooks are provided if you need to hang anything from the poles.

Bulk display space does not include pipes, drapes, or electricity, however these items can be provided for an additional fee.

Some small businesses may wish to share their space with another small business.  All space sharing must be approved in advance by management.

Everyone is working under a tight budget, and we understand that.  You may reserve your space with a minimal $50.00 deposit.  Any remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the expo.  Payment is required in full if you register less than 30 days prior to the event.

Plans sometimes change.  You may cancel anytime up to two weeks prior to the start of the expo, and fees paid will be refunded, less a $50.00 cancellation fee.  Any cancellations less than two weeks prior to the expo are non-refundable.

Yes! All vendors are required to be in compliance with state and local business regulations.  Food vendors must have valid food handler’s permit and DEC permit if applicable. As an Alaskan business, you should already have your State of Alaska business license. 

The Menard Center is owned by the City of Wasilla, and it is located within the Wasilla City boundaries. Per City code, you are required to have a Wasilla business license or permit if you are exhibiting at the Expo. This requirement is mandatory, regardless of whether or not you are actually selling products or services at the expo. THE WASILLA BUSINESS LICENSE OR PERMIT REQUIREMENT IS NOT OPTIONAL.  In lieu of a business license, Wasilla offers a 7-day Special Event Permit for a minimal charge. This license/permit requirement still extends to nonprofit organizations, however Wasilla does not charge for nonprofits. Wasilla business license and sales tax details are online at https://www.cityofwasilla.com/business/business-licensing-sales-tax-information

Small businesses should carry business liability insurance.  We request that vendors provide a certificate of insurance with MATSU Events LLC additionally insured as certificate holder.  As stated in the terms of the space rental agreement, neither MATSU Events LLC, the Alaska Wave & Wheel Expo, the Sponsors, the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center, nor any member of the above, shall be responsible for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur to the Exhibitor, an Exhibitor’s employee, or the property thereof, from any cause whatsoever.

We will have security staff available during all expo hours.  The Menard Center is closed and locked at night.  Because there are a number of outdoor vendor displays, we provide security staff to patrol outside the Menard Center Friday and Saturday nights. The Wasilla Police Department also provides periodic checks when they are aware that inventory is on display outside. That being said, MATSU Events is not liable for your property or inventory, and we recommend that you take appropriate precautions to secure your property and provide your own business insurance.

As a vendor, you must maintain a safe environment in and around your display space. Per the Borough Fire Marshall, you are required to have a current fire extinguisher placed at the left front wheel of any vehicle. Batteries must be disconnected, gas caps must be locked or otherwise secured, and you must provide a metal drip pan under the engine of any motorized vehicle on display inside the Menard Center. Refer to the Menard Center’s complete list of rules for indoor vehicle display: https://www.akwavewheel.com/vehicledisplay.pdf

If your indoor display includes a covered canopy, the covering must be constructed of fireproof material, and you must have a current fire extinguisher with a rating of 2A:10B:C or larger

Keep in mind that no display materials or signage may obstruct or block exit isles, exit doors, or exit signage.

Of course! You are welcomed and encouraged to have drawings or give away items at the expo. Holding a drawing for free items is a great way to collect names, numbers and email addresses to help your business marketing efforts!  Raffles (where you sell numbered tickets for a chance to win) fall under State gaming regulations and are allowed, providing you have the appropriate Alaska State gaming permit.

As promoters, our job is to bring in the largest crowd possible to visit your space and view your products.  During the month prior to the expo, we will be running local radio and television advertising.  We will also be placing posters in windows and on bulletin boards all over Mat-Su and Anchorage. Our total advertising budget to promote public awareness of this event exceeds $20,000.

Almost everyone these days is connected on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram. Many small businesses rely on social media as an economical way of interacting with their customers. MATSU Events has thousands of social media followers, and we use these platforms to help promote the expo. We run targeted social media promotions throughout Southcentral Alaska in the months and weeks leading up to the event.  If we know that your business is on Facebook, we will post blurbs about your business on the MATSU Events pages. During the month prior to the expo, a portion of our advertising budget then goes to “boosting” these posts out to a broad audience of thousands of potential expo visitors. These boosted posts help promote the expo generally, and they help promote your business specifically. The expo’s popularity experiences exponential organic growth when you mention it in your own social media posts. As a group effort, all vendors can help by sharing, posting, and tagging MATSU Events and the Alaska Wave and Wheel Expo through your personal accounts and business pages.

Corporate sponsorships are win/win. Your financial support helps us defray expo promotion expenses, and we are able to help you by including your logo on our website and in our marketing materials and media advertising by linking to your websites, and by running partner promotions on social media. Contact us for details if you are interested in sponsoring or partnering with this event!

We will keep this page updated as the details come together.  In the meantime, if you have more questions, we’re only a phone call or email away. Please feel free to contact MATSU Events anytime at 907-947-9900 or via email at info@matsuevents.com!