Event

Content Type for New Upcoming Events

Summary

An Event is a page for a dated calendar event. You can use it to announce public events, meetings, hearings, and so forth. It can contain images and videos and can be customized with buttons and documents. A link to the Event is automatically added to your website's Event View when published. 

Note: This is not to be confused with the Event Card paragraph component, which is a layout element inserted into a page. 

Audience

The Event Creator, Editor, Publisher, and Web Manager roles can all create and publish Events. The only role that cannot work with Events is the Alert Creator. Learn more about Platform User Roles and Permissions. 

How To

  • 1

    Create an Event

    New Content Types are created using the Content menu in your toolbar. To create a new Event, navigate to: Content > Add Content > Event.

    User interface with the mouse pointing to Add Event.

    Begin filling out the form. Fields with an asterisk (*) are required.

    • Title (*) - Enter the title of the Event. This appears on the Event, in its URL, and in the Event View.
    Create an Event and give it a Title.
  • 2

    Main Image

    Best Practices

    While not required, it is best practice to add a Main Image. The Main Image appears in both the Event and in the Grid View located at (/upcoming-events-page) on your website. Websites using the Grid View for Events should add a Main Image to avoid empty space in the Event view, as shown in the example below. 

    Example of an event grid view showing events with and without a main image.
    This example shows the empty white space that can occur in the Grid View when an Event does not contain a Main Image.

     

    The Event date obscures the top left corner of the Event Main Image.
    Example of the top-left corner of an Event's Main Image being obscured by the date of the Event. 
    Dimensions and Resolution

    The ideal dimensions for an Event Main Image are 1400px wide x 934px high. The recommended minimum resolution is double the desktop view size for clearer, better-looking images on high resolution screens. Download an image to use as a template. 

    Note: Do not put important content in the upper left corner of the image. The platform places a colored square containing the Event date on top of the image in this corner and will obscure content. 

    Alternative Text

    All meaningful images must have descriptive alternative text (alt text) to be accessible for visitors with low or no vision. If the image does not convey meaningful information and is purely decorative, check the box for Decorative Image and leave the Alternative Text field empty. This allows screen reading software to skip over the image. Learn more about Alternative Text. 

    Button to add media for a Main Image to an Event
    • Main Image - Select the Add Media button to add a Main Image.
    • The Media Library opens. Select the desired image, or upload a new image and select it.
    • Select Insert Selected.
    • A thumbnail of the image you selected now appears. 
    After adding a Main Image, a thumbnail appears on the Event.
  • 3

    Summary

    • Summary - Briefly describe the Event. The Summary appears in search engine results with the link. Provide a Summary to enhance Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Note: When left blank, the Summary field uses an excerpt from the Event Description as the summary.
    Providing a summary of your content improves Search Engine Optimization or S.E.O. and helps visitors decide if they want to follow the link.
  • 4

    Event Description

    Best Practices

    Write for your audience's needs in plain and direct language. Not sure where to begin? Use a tool to help simplify your writing, such as the Hemingway Editor, and register for our training. 

    • Event Description - This is the body of your Event page content that people will read. Type or paste your Event details into the text editor. Format text and insert links or images as desired. 
    The Event Description contains standard word processing tools and allows the addition of images and tables.

    Text Format

    • Paste Filtered HTML - Text Format is set to Paste Filtered HTML by default. When you paste text into the text editor with this setting, hidden HTML tags are filtered out to maintain a consistent look across your website.
    • Full HTML - To retain markup, change the Text Format to "Full HTML" using the drop-down menu before pasting content.  
  • 5

    When

    Provide the start and end date and start and end time for your Event.

    Date

    • The format for date is mm/dd/yyyy. For example, 01/05/2026 represents January 5, 2026. 
    • Enter the Start and End Dates or use the Date Picker.
    Event Date picker.

    Time

    • The format for time is HH:MM (AM or PM). For example, 10:00 AM.
    • Enter the Start Time or use the Time Picker.
    Event Time picker.
    • Enter the End Time or use the Duration menu to select a duration for the Event.
    Event Duration menu.

     

    • For all-day Events, check the All Day box, if desired.
    Event All Day option.
  • 6

    Where

    Virtual Events

    • Country - For events taking place entirely online, keep the default setting, None, and proceed to the Registration section. 
    Country menu.

    In-Person Events

    • Country - To provide Google Maps directions to the location of your event, use the drop-down menu to select United States.
    • The Where section of the Event refreshes to add new form fields. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
    • Location Name - Enter the Location Name. Example: Atrium of the Green Square Complex
    Example location details for the Event Content Type.
    • Street Address (*) - Enter the Street Address. Example: N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, 217 W. Jones St.
    • City (*) - Enter the City. Example: Raleigh
    • State (*) - Select North Carolina from the drop-down menu.
    • Zip Code (*) - Enter the Zip Code. Example: 27603

    Visitor Experience

    When an Event includes a geographic location, a link with directions to the street address you provided is added to the Event. When the visitor follows the link, Google Maps opens in a new window and the address you provided is pre-populated as the destination. The visitor can view the location on a map and request turn-by-turn directions from any starting point.

    A mouse cursor hovers over a link to Google Maps directions to an event.
    Example of an Event with Google Maps directions for traveling to a specific street address. 
  • 7

    Registration

    Provide a URL to create a Register button on your event and provide the cost to attend.
    The Register button created when a URL is provided on an Event under Register URL.
    • Register Link - If you require online registration for your event, enter a URL to the registration form; this creates a Register button at the top of your Event. 
    • Cost - If there is a cost to attend your event, enter the amount in this field. 
  • 8

    Contact Info

    • Contact Info — Enter information for the main contact person, if desired: Name, Email, and Phone Number.
    Provide the contact information for an indivudal who can answer questions about the Event, if desired.
  • 9

    Organizer

    Provide information identifying the Event organizer.

    Organizer section without terms configured for the Division/Office.
    The Organizer section of the Event content type without defined vocabulary terms for Division/Office. 

    Taxonomy Terms

    Content Types that appear in Views can be tagged with taxonomy terms to help visitors filter for the content that interests them. Web Managers can add new terms to the vocabulary, while other user roles may apply those terms to their content. 

    • Division/Office - In this area, you may or may not see taxonomy terms. Options are specific to your Division or Office and differ from the examples provided. If you are unsure which taxonomy terms to apply, ask your Web Manager. Web Managers can add new terms to a vocabulary by navigating to Structure > Taxonomy and selecting the desired vocabulary. 
    • Organizer - Enter the name of the person or group responsible for hosting the Event. If the name is already in the system, it will appear as a search result that you can select. 

    Link

    • URL - Enter a URL to the website of the person or group hosting the Event. 
    • Link Text - Enter meaningful link text describing where the visitor will go if they follow the link. Learn about creating meaningful links. 
    Identify the organizer of the Event by entering the Division or Office name and providing a URL to the organizer's website.
    Example: The Organizer section of the Event content type with defined vocabulary terms for Division/Office and existing Organizer names. 
  • 10

    Related Information

    • Select Related Information to expand this section.
    • Enter information for Related Content, Event Type, Event Terms, and Documents.

    Related Content

    Provide related links, if desired.

    • URL - Enter a web address.
      • Links within your website - Start typing the Title of the content to which you want to link and select it from the search results. You can also enter an internal path, such as /node/add.
      • External links - Paste the URL if it points to a website other than your own.
    • Link Text - Enter text for the link.
    • Add Another Item - Select the Add Another Item button to add more links. Repeat this process to add as many related links as you need.
    • Remove - Select the Remove button to remove a link to related content.
    • Rearrange multiple URLs by dragging and dropping them into the desired order, or by adjusting their Row Weights. To bring an item closer to the top, assign it a lower number.  

    Learn about creating meaningful links. 

    Related Content links pointing to internal and external URLs.
    Above: The first link points to an external website so the URL path is pasted into the URL field. The second link points to a page on the same website, so the search feature is used to select the desired content. 

    Event Type and Event Terms

    • Event Type and Event Terms are taxonomy fields. In these areas, you may or may not see taxonomy terms. Options are specific to your Division or Office and differ from the examples provided. 
      • Web Managers can add new terms to a vocabulary by navigating to Structure > Taxonomy and selecting the desired vocabulary.
      • Other user roles may apply the terms to their content. If you are unsure which taxonomy terms to apply, ask your Web Manager. 
    • If a selection is made here, the term appears at the bottom of the saved page with special treatment. It also helps site visitors filter Events on the Event List page. 

    Adding Terms to your Event

    • Select one or more appropriate terms to classify your Event. Terms darken when selected. To deselect a term, select it again.
      • Event Type - Select one or more types from the available options. Example: Public Notices & Hearings
      • Event Terms - Select one or more terms from the available options. Example: Public Hearing 
    Select from available Event Types and Event Terms to associate them with this Event.

    Documents

    This area is useful for providing information such as a program schedule, public notice, permit, or meeting agenda. All online public documents should meet digital accessibility requirements. Learn about Accessible PDFs and Documents. 

    • To upload a Document, select Add Media. Repeat this process to add as many documents as you need.
      • You may upload an unlimited number of files.
      • The maximum size for each file is 256 MB.
      • The allowed file types include: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .csv, .txt, .rtf, .zip, .ppt, .pptx, .xml, .kmz, and .mp3.
      • Learn about uploading files here.
    • Remove - Select the Remove button, indicated by an "X' within a circle on top of the document, to remove that document. 
    • Rearrange multiple media items by dragging and dropping them into the desired order, or by adjusting their Row Weights. To bring an item closer to the top, assign it a lower number.  
    Attach documents to your Event for participants to review.
  • 11

    Save Often

    Save often as you work on your content to avoid losing work due to timing out or navigating away from the page.

    • Editors may only save as "Draft" or "Needs Review."
    • Publishers and Web Manager may also save as "Published."

    Current State: Displays the current status of the Content Type and whether or not it is available to the public.

    Change to: The state you want the content to be in the next time you select the Save button.

    • Draft - All new content types are in Draft State by default. This state allows you to continually edit and save your work before it is made available to the public.
    • Needs Review - Editors may save as Needs Review when they are finished working and want a Publisher or Web Manager to publish the content.
    • Published - This content is available to the public. Only a Publisher or Web Manager can choose this state.
    • Unpublished - This content was available to the public at one time, but is not now. Only a Publisher or Web Manager can choose this state.

    Delete: Deleted Content Types cannot be recovered. If you may need this content again in the future, it is best to change the state to Unpublished. 

    Change to Save as Published
    Save content as Published to make available to the public. 
  • 12

    Publish or Unpublish Content on a Scheduled Date

    Some content types allow you to Publish or Unpublish them on a scheduled date. After creating the content type as outlined above: 

    • Change the Save As: status to Unpublished.
    • Navigate to the Content Information Panel > Scheduling Options.
    • Expand Scheduling Options.
    Content Type Information Panel
    • In the Publish On field, use the Date and Time pickers to choose when the content will be published.
    • Set the Publish State field to Published.
    • If desired, repeat these steps for the Unpublish On field and Unpublish State.
    • Select the Save button at the bottom of the page.
    The panel for Scheduling Options allows you to set a date and time to either publish or unpublish content.
    Scheduling Options
    Save a content type as Unpublished.