How To Display Facebook Page Events on Website using PHP?

Before we start coding, let me ask you this: Do you really want to code this feature on your website? Or would you prefer to use a website plugin that does the trick instantly?

There is an easy way to customize & embed Facebook page events on your website. No coding required. How? Use the DSM Website Plugin! Learn how to use it from this Step by step tutorial or watch the video below. Please watch it in HD and full screen.

You can display single Facebook page event as well! How? Learn from this step by step tutorial.

Going back to coding…

Do you have an event manager on your website? Do you create events on your Facebook page?

If your answer is both YES, you’re wasting a lot of time managing your brand’s events information online.

What if there’s a way to create an event ONCE, and then let it appear both on your Website and Facebook page? Will you be happy saving your precious time?

Our code for today will make you happy then, just like we are!

Today we’re gonna talk about how to display publicly available Facebook Page EVENTS on your website.

This one is great if you want your Facebook page events to be shown in your website in a synchronized way.

Once you created or updated an event on Facebook, it will be automatically reflected on your website too.

The advantages and risks of this is almost the same with what I discussed in my first post  related to this one.

Today post will include the following contents:

1.0 Source Code Overview
2.0 Final Code Output

3.0 Create An App On Facebook Developers Website
4.0 Create An index.php File And Put A Page Title
5.0 Make index.php Bootstrap Ready
6.0 Add A Page Header
7.0 Get Your Facebook Page ID
8.0 Specify The “Since” and “Until” Dates To Get The Events
9.0 Get Your App’s Access Token
10.0 Prepare The FB Graph API Link
11.0 Decode The JSON String
12.0 Prepare The Table And Loop
13.0 Put The Event Values In Variables
14.0 Put The Values In TD Tags

15.0 How To Display Past Events?
16.0 How To Display Upcoming Events?
17.0 How Do I Change The Order Of The Events?

18.0 What People Say About This Code?
18.1 From Blog Comments
18.2 From Emails
18.3 From Facebook Messages

19.0 Download the Complete Source Code
20.0 Social Media Scripts – LEVEL 3 – PRO PACK
21.0 DSM Facebook Page Events WordPress Plugin PRO
22.0 DSM Facebook Page Events Website Plugin
23.0 Do You Want a Demo?

24.0 What’s Next?
25.0 Related Source Codes
26.0 Some Notes

1.0 Source Code Overview

Here’s an overview of what our code does:

1.1 Gets events listed with data such as event image, name, time, description, ect. from your Facebook fan page without using any Facebook PHP SDK, just the Facebook Graph API!

1.2 Display these event data to a webpage (assuming it is your WordPress or PHP website.)

1.3 Show some awesome UI powered by Bootstrap. If you’re not yet familiar with this awesome front-end framework, see our step by step Bootstrap tutorial here.

2.0 Display Facebook Page Events On Website – Output

We have to know where we are going. If we completed the tutorial below, we will achieve the following LEVEL 1 source code output.

2.1 LEVEL 1 Source Code – Output Preview

2.2 LEVEL 2 Source Code – Output Preview

2.3 LEVEL 3 Source Code – Output Preview

The LEVEL 2 and LEVEL 3 source code outputs proves that you can add and customize more features. It’s easier and faster if you will learn by following our tutorial below. Downloading our source codes is your huge advantage as well. For now, let’s proceed to the step by step tutorial of our LEVEL 1 source code. Enjoy!

3.0 Create An App On Facebook Developers Website

You can follow our tutorial on how to create an app on Facebook developers website. Take note of the App ID and App Secret keys.

4.0 Create An index.php File And Put A Page Title

We will declare a page title via PHP this way:

<?php $page_title ="Display Facebook Page Events on Website"; ?>

5.0 Make index.php Bootstrap Ready

Add the following code on our index.php to make it Bootstrap ready. Bootstrap allows us to have a decent looking user interface, if you’re not familiar with it, please visit our Bootstrap step by step guide.

Notice that we put <?php echo $page_title; ?> inside the title tag. We have to make use of our section 4.0 above.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>

	<meta charset="utf-8">
	<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
	<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

	<title><?php echo $page_title; ?></title>

	<link rel="stylesheet" href="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.1.1/css/bootstrap.min.css">

</head>
<body>
	

<div class="container">

<!-- events will be here -->

</div>


<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.11.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="//netdna.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.1.1/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>

<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="https://oss.maxcdn.com/libs/html5shiv/3.7.0/html5shiv.js"></script>
<script src="https://oss.maxcdn.com/libs/respond.js/1.4.2/respond.min.js"></script>
<![endif]-->

</body>
</html>

6.0 Add A Page Header

Again, we have to make use of our section 4.0 above, the Bootstrap way.

<div class="page-header">

<h1><?php echo $page_title; ?></h1>

</div>

7.0 Get Your Facebook Page ID

The testing Facebook page we used here is https://www.facebook.com/NinjaDummyPage, and its Facebook page id is 221167777906963. How did I get that ID? Just use this tool I made for you.

Once you get your Facebook page ID, put this code below the section 4.0 code, just replace the ID with your own.

<?php $fb_page_id = "221167777906963"; ?>

8.0 Specify The “Since” and “Until” Dates To Get The Events

Specifying the ‘since’ and ‘until’ dates below will get all the Facebook page events 2 years before and 2 years after the current year in your page.

$year_range = 2;

// automatically adjust date range
// human readable years
$since_date = date('Y-01-01', strtotime('-' . $year_range . ' years'));
$until_date = date('Y-01-01', strtotime('+' . $year_range . ' years'));

// unix timestamp years
$since_unix_timestamp = strtotime($since_date);
$until_unix_timestamp = strtotime($until_date);

// or you can set a fix date range:
// $since_unix_timestamp = strtotime("2012-01-08");
// $until_unix_timestamp = strtotime("2018-06-28");

9.0 Get Your App’s Access Token

Before you can get any data from the FB graph API, you need an access token. Prepare your App ID and App Secret keys from section 3.0 above, we’ll use it to get your access token, here’s how:

https://graph.facebook.com/oauth/access_token?client_id=YOUR_APP_ID&client_secret=YOUR_APP_SECRET&grant_type=client_credentials

Replace YOUR_APP_ID and YOUR_APP_SECRET with your own and run the link on the browser.

Put the value you see inside the $access_token variable. Change YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN below.

$access_token = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";

10.0 Prepare The FB Graph API Link

This link is where the JSON string will be retrieved.

$fields="id,name,description,place,timezone,start_time,cover";

$json_link = "https://graph.facebook.com/v2.7/{$fb_page_id}/events/attending/?fields={$fields}&access_token={$access_token}&since={$since_unix_timestamp}&until={$until_unix_timestamp}";

$json = file_get_contents($json_link);

11.0 Decode The JSON String

We have to decode the JSON string using the json_decode() function and convert it to an associative array by setting the second parameter to true. We also used JSON_BIGINT_AS_STRING parameter since Facebook uses large integers (eid) and we don’t want PHP to simplify the value.

$obj = json_decode($json, true, 512, JSON_BIGINT_AS_STRING);

// for those using PHP version older than 5.4, use this instead:
// $obj = json_decode(preg_replace('/("\w+"):(\d+)/', '\\1:"\\2"', $json), true);

12.0 Prepare The Table And Loop

This time we are actually retrieving the events from Facebook. We are going to put it in an HTML table powered by Bootstrap, that’s why we have to classes below.

echo "
<table class='table table-hover table-responsive table-bordered'>";

    // count the number of events
    $event_count = count($obj['data']);

    for($x=0; $x<$event_count; $x++){
        // facebook page events will be here
    }
echo"</table>";

13.0 Put The Event Values In Variables

Inside our for loop, we are going to put the event values in variables.

// set timezone
date_default_timezone_set($obj['data'][$x]['timezone']);

$start_date = date( 'l, F d, Y', strtotime($obj['data'][$x]['start_time']));
$start_time = date('g:i a', strtotime($obj['data'][$x]['start_time']));
 
$pic_big = isset($obj['data'][$x]['cover']['source']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['cover']['source'] : "https://graph.facebook.com/v2.7/{$fb_page_id}/picture?type=large";

$eid = $obj['data'][$x]['id'];
$name = $obj['data'][$x]['name'];
$description = isset($obj['data'][$x]['description']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['description'] : "";

// place
$place_name = isset($obj['data'][$x]['place']['name']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['place']['name'] : "";
$city = isset($obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['city']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['city'] : "";
$country = isset($obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['country']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['country'] : "";
$zip = isset($obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['zip']) ? $obj['data'][$x]['place']['location']['zip'] : "";

$location="";

if($place_name && $city && $country && $zip){
	$location="{$place_name}, {$city}, {$country}, {$zip}";
}else{
	$location="Location not set or event data is too old.";
}

14.0 Put The Values In TD Tags

This is how we put values in the HTML table for our output. Put this code inside the for loop, after the code in section 12.0.

echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td rowspan='6' style='width:20em;'>";
		echo "<img src='{$pic_big}' width='200px' />";
	echo "</td>";
echo "</tr>";
 
echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td style='width:15em;'>What:</td>";
	echo "<td><b>{$name}</b></td>";
echo "</tr>";
 
echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td>When:</td>";
	echo "<td>{$start_date} at {$start_time}</td>";
echo "</tr>";
 
echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td>Where:</td>";
	echo "<td>{$location}</td>";
echo "</tr>";
 
echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td>Description:</td>";
	echo "<td>{$description}</td>";
echo "</tr>";
 
echo "<tr>";
	echo "<td>Facebook Link:</td>";
	echo "<td>";
		echo "<a href='https://www.facebook.com/events/{$eid}/' target='_blank'>View on Facebook</a>";
	echo "</td>";
echo "</tr>";

15.0 How To Display Past Events?

To display all past event, you just have to set the ‘since date’ to the past x years (set in $year_range variable), and the ‘until date’ to yesterday.

// get events for the past x years
$year_range = 1;

// automatically adjust date range
// human readable years
$since_date = date('Y-01-01', strtotime('-' . $year_range . ' years'));
$until_date = date('Y-m-d', strtotime('-1 day'));

// unix timestamp years
$since_unix_timestamp = strtotime($since_date);
$until_unix_timestamp = strtotime($until_date);

Important Notes:

In the Facebook Page events tab, there are two link buttons: “Upcoming Events” and “Past Events”, sometimes, when you click the “Past Events” link, it doesn’t show the past events you created. But it shows on our script which means it’s in the Facebook page events database. I think this is a Facebook bug that they have to address.

I also recommend to set the “year range” to “1” because sometimes, Facebook returns the wrong data, like when you have a long date range or when you have a huge list of events within a long date range.

16.0 How To Display Upcoming Events?

To display the events today and in the future, you just have to set the ‘since date’ to today and the ‘until date’ to the future date (affected by the $year_range variable)

// get events for the next x years
$year_range = 1;

// automatically adjust date range
// human readable years
$since_date = date('Y-m-d');
$until_date = date('Y-12-31', strtotime('+' . $year_range . ' years'));

// unix timestamp years
$since_unix_timestamp = strtotime($since_date);
$until_unix_timestamp = strtotime($until_date);

17.0 How Do I Change The Order Of The Events?

Unfortunately, Facebook API does not give us the ability to sort the order of events, but I made a workaround for it. Use the following before the ‘for loop’ code:

function sortFunction($a,$b){
	if ($a['start_time'] == $b['start_time']) return 0;
	return strtotime($a['start_time']) - strtotime($b['start_time']);
}
usort($obj['data'],"sortFunction");

The only disadvantage is that, it will only sort the currently loaded JSON content.

18.0 What People Say About This Code?

I’m so glad that other people are delighted by this code, here are some of them!

18.1 From Blog Comments

★★★★★ “Hi Mike, amazing tutorial.” ~ simonerama

★★★★★ “Hello and THANK you for this amazing work! :)” ~ Sergio

★★★★★ “Did the trick for me. Thanks for the nice script!” ~ n0Fear

★★★★★ “Hi Mike, thanks for the great script. I’m a programming novice, but got this running the way I wanted to pretty quickly. I owe you a beer.” ~ Bas Koole

★★★★★ “Hi it’s working great :)” ~ Sebastian

18.2 From Emails

★★★★★ “I’ve got it working! You’re a great man, will do some ad for you!” ~ Markus

★★★★★ “Hi Mike! BOOM, works great! Thanks again!” ~ Nick

★★★★★ “Perfect! Thank you very much! If I have some new jobs, I will contact you! Greetings from Germany.” ~ Eric

★★★★★ “Thank you for the fast reply, yes this should work for me. I will contact you again. Thank you so much.” ~ Ruocco

18.3 From Facebook Messages

★★★★★ “Hey Mate, code’s a lifesaver (and time saver!)” ~ Andrew

★★★★★ “Thanks, I’ve been trying to get Facebook events on the website for 6+ months had no luck, decided last night to update the site which I haven’t done in a while and thought I’d give it another go and found you’re page through a google search.” ~ Ward

★★★★★ “Mike it’s great and simple! I like! Thank you!” ~ Jasmin

★★★★★ “You’re a life saver, thanks so much.” ~ Brendon

19.0 Download the Complete Source Code

You can get the source code by following the whole, well detailed tutorial above. But isn’t it more convenient if you can just download the complete source code we used, and play around it?

There’s a small fee in getting the complete source code, it is small compared to the value or skill upgrade it can bring you, or income you can get from your website project or business.

For a limited time only, I will give you the source code for a low price. Download the source code by clicking the green buy button below.

19.1 Download the LEVEL 1 Source Code

19.2 Download the LEVEL 2 Source Code

19.3 Download The LEVEL 3 Source Code

Do you need more reasons to download it?

Thank you for supporting our projects!

20.0 Social Media Scripts – LEVEL 3 – PRO PACK

21.0 DSM FB Events WordPress Plugin PRO

DSM Facebook Events WordPress Plugin

Display events from a Facebook page to your WordPress website.

22.0 DSM Facebook Events Page Website Plugin

You demanded it, we built it. A lot of people requested a website plugin version of this Facebook page events code. Now it is available. It works no matter what website platform you use. We have tried it in WordPress, Squarespace, Wix and more.

Do you use a Content Management System or CMS like WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly or Wix?

Your Problem: You need to display Facebook page's events on your website. But YOU DON'T LIKE TO CODE.

Solution For You: Use the DSM website plugin. Why?

1. Remove your worries about coding and API updates that can break your site.

2. Fully customize the look and feel of your Facebook events feed instantly.

3. Show events from your Facebook page to your website automatically and in real-time.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

23.0 Do You Want a Demo?

If you want a demo to see if this will work with your own Facebook page, please send me a message via email mike@codeofaninja.com, or via our official Facebook page!

Please provide your Facebook page URL on the message, thanks!

24.0 What’s Next?

Today we have learned how to show your Facebook page events on your website.

Did you know that you can also display Facebook photo albums and photos on your website?

Let us go to the next tutorial: How To Display Facebook PHOTOS on Website?

25.0 Related Source Codes

26.0 Some Notes

Thanks for visiting our tutorial on how to display Facebook page events on website using PHP and Facebook Graph API!