How to Import Events into Events Calendar WD (Eventbrite, Facebook, Meetup and iCal)
Events Calendar WD makes it easy to show a clean, good-looking calendar on your WordPress site. But a calendar is only useful when it is full, and keeping it full by hand is a lot of repetitive work: new events to add, old ones to fix, venues and organizers to create again and again.
The WPEA Events Calendar WD Addon lets WP Event Aggregator do that work. It brings events from Eventbrite, Facebook, Meetup and iCal into Events Calendar WD, and fills in the details so you do not have to.
This guide covers the setup, helps you choose the right import method, and explains what you will see in your calendar afterwards. The addon documentation is a handy second reference.
What You Get
- Events created in Events Calendar WD with title, description, image, dates and times.
- Organizers and venues created for you, with a map switched on for each venue.
- Your default calendar assigned to every imported event.
- Categories from the ones you choose in the import form.
- The original event link saved in the event’s URL field.
- Scheduled imports if you want new events to arrive on their own.
What You Need
- WP Event Aggregator
- WP Event Aggregator Pro
- Events Calendar WD
- The WPEA Events Calendar WD Addon
If one of these is missing, the addon shows a notice in your dashboard that tells you what to install or activate.
Setup in Three Steps
Step 1: Activate your license
Go to WP Event Aggregator → Events Calendar WD Addon License and enter your license key so the addon can receive updates.
Step 2: Connect your source
Open WP Event Aggregator → Settings and connect the source you plan to use. Eventbrite, Facebook and Meetup each need a quick connection, such as a token or app credentials. iCal needs none. The WP Event Aggregator documentation explains every connection.
Step 3: Choose Events Calendar WD as the destination
Open the import tab for your source and look for Import Into. Select Events Calendar WD, choose a category and a status, and run the import. Imported events arrive as pending unless you pick another status, so you can review them before they go live.
Which Import Method Should You Choose?
| If you want to… | Use this |
|---|---|
| Add one specific event | Event ID (Eventbrite, Facebook or Meetup) |
| Follow a promoter | Eventbrite Organizer ID |
| Follow a venue or club on Facebook | Facebook Page |
| Follow a community group | Meetup Group URL |
| Pull in a calendar a venue, school or council publishes | iCal URL or .ics file |
| Move a list of events from another system | CSV, XML or JSON file import |
Organizer, page, group and iCal URL imports are part of the Pro plugin, and you already have it if the addon is running. For any import that follows a source over time, choose a scheduled import and set it to run hourly, twice daily, daily, weekly or monthly.
Bonus: Eventbrite Tickets on the Event Page
For events imported from Eventbrite, you can show the ticket checkout right below the event. Enable Display ticket option after event in the Eventbrite settings of WP Event Aggregator, and the addon adds the ticket section to the bottom of the single event page.
Tips for a Clean Calendar
- Test with one event first. Import a single event and view it on your site before you import in bulk.
- Keep new imports on pending until you are happy with how they look.
- Turn on Update existing events for the source if you want changes at the source to come through. Without it, events already on your site are skipped when you import again.
- Use categories in the import form to keep different sources organized.
Good to Know
- Each import creates single events. Repeating events from a source are not set up as repeating events in Events Calendar WD.
- Events without a physical venue are given an “Online Event” venue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need WP Event Aggregator Pro?
Yes. The addon asks for WP Event Aggregator Pro in addition to the free plugin.
Which sources can I import from?
Eventbrite, Facebook, Meetup, iCal, and CSV, XML and JSON files.
Are organizers and venues created automatically?
Yes. They are created as Events Calendar WD organizers and venues and attached to each event.
Which calendar do imported events go to?
They are assigned to your default Events Calendar WD calendar.
Will events be published straight away?
Only if you choose that status. The default is pending.
Can I schedule imports?
Yes. Choose a scheduled import and set how often it should run.
Wrapping Up
With the addon active, filling Events Calendar WD takes just a few clicks: choose a source, select Events Calendar WD under Import Into, pick a category and import. Check one event, then scale up with organizer, page, group or feed imports and put them on a schedule.
For more detail, see the Events Calendar WD addon docs and the WP Event Aggregator docs, or visit the WPEA Events Calendar WD Addon page and the WP Event Aggregator page.
