Wikivoyage:Event articles

This page in a nutshell: Only big and major events such as the Olympics, or occurs in too many locations to list in one city get its own article on Wikivoyage. Smaller events can go in the relevant city article page, just like how we treat airport articles.

This page documents a Wikivoyage guideline.

It is a generally accepted standard that editors should follow, though it is best treated with common sense, and occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

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Event articles are a type of article which is all about events. This page covers all about what can and can't get its own article on Wikivoyage, and what format should it follow.

What gets its own article

In short, most events do not qualify to get its own article.

Event articles can be written to cover huge international events such as the RWC, the Olympics or the Euro football, but also complex enough more local events, which occurs in multiple locations in a city, and would make the relevant city article too long if covered there. Wikimanias are also eligible for individual event articles.

An example of a local event that could be covered by a separate event article is the famous Vivid Sydney: light shows often going for a month at eight different locations, each different. Adding all of that to the relevant city article would make it an unfriendly long list.

Most non-huge events, such as a yearly town festival, can easily just go in the relevant city article's page, as a {{do}} listing (NOT {{event}}). If you can cover the event in one or a few paragraphs, there is no need for a separate article.

Even some big and complex events, such as Slush in Helsinki, might not deserve their own articles. Slush is not interesting for most travellers and giving more relevant advice to the target audience than the event's own web pages would be difficult. It can be listed in Helsinki to warn about outsold lodgings and to link to the event's own pages for those interested, but that is probably enough.

The tango festival in Seinäjoki is huge and interesting for many travellers going that way, but a few paragraphs in the city article may still be enough: there is no need to make a separate copy of the program, requiring apt maintenance to keep it up to date. Just tell enough that people know whether they are interested and whether they need to prepare, and link the official pages for most of the rest.

Formatting

At the moment, there is no decided-on format. However, a good, standard practice is to follow the formatting of other event articles unless there is reason not to. Here is a guide to what's meant to go where.

Understand

Unlike in most other types of articles, the understand section is key. It should tell about the event in general, about its significance and history, and have an overview of what the event has got to offer. If it's a light show, then explain all the notable locations, if it is a tech show, then explain what types of tech it has to offer. Still keep the section reasonably short, because no one likes reading a big black swathe of ink.

Prepare

An optional section to describe things that should be done well in advance of going to the event.

For example, you may need to buy tickets about a year in advance of the Olympic Games if you want the best chance of getting a ticket. For other events nearby accommodation may be likely to sell-out months in advance of the event.

Get in

The get in section should be on how to get to the event. Link relevant cities via which people are likely to come (and check that their Get ins are up to date). Are there event-specific transportation, such as a long-distance train especially for the event? If the normal routes might be congested, are there alternative routes, such as an airport a little farther with good rail connection to the city?

How do you get to the event area itself, from the relevant cities, or from the airport, bus station etc. of the city? What bus lines? Is there a shuttle? What about parking arrangements? If the event is in a "huge city", in what district? Do the Get in and Get around of the district article make sense for those going to the event? Usually a short description on the event area in relation to the transportation hubs (or other key points) of the district is needed.

If the event is happening in multiple locations, check that all of them are sufficiently covered. Transportation between the locations can be covered here or in Get around, depending on what makes most sense.

If people will be sleeping away from the event area, transportation to there and between the lodgings and the event area should be described here, unless covered by the above, the Get around of the city, or the Get around of the event article. At least a note on whether the two are far from each other and where to look for more information might be helpful.

Unless explained elsewhere, the Get in section should also cover arriving at the event venue. Are there registration processes, security checks or luggage storage? Can tickets be bought on-site?

If the event is happening in Helsinki, check that the Get in of the article is up to date and covers the relevant ways to get in. Perhaps hint on the possibility to get in via Tallinn (or even Stockholm) for an arrival by ferry. Check the relevant district article and explain the relation between the event location and the rest of the district. Note the relevant bus and tram lines and any close-by metro or train station, and any shuttles.
If the event is happening in two locations such as Downtown in LA as well as Pasadena, add how to get both of the them. Similarly, if an event is happening in Woolloomooloo and Barangaroo, add how to get to both those places.

Get around

How to get around when already in the event area. Are there shuttles or bikes for hire? Do you just use the normal public transport? If there are special arrangements or concerns regarding getting to shops, restaurants and camping not in the event area but catering to participants, explain these. How are distances between different locations?

See

What's there to see, whether it's attractions, music shows, tech equipment, you call it.

Do

Any hands-on things to do at the event. If empty, merge it with see. And make it a ===See and Do===.

Buy

Any shops designed for the event, or even just normal shops at the location of the event. Are souvenirs sold all over the city or at the event bureau?

Eat

The eat section should contain restaurants, cafes, eateries, ice cream parlours, anything to eat. Linking to the relevant district article may also be done, or even copy pasted from the relevant district article and then modifying it for the situation at the time of the event. Do make sure though, if you're doing the latter option, to make sure all of the info on places to eat is up to date though by copyediting it. However, this might not be the best solution for local events, as much of it isn't a permanent place to eat.

Drink

If there's any bars/pubs at the event, list them, if not, then say so. Not all events serve drinks.

Are there water fountains or bottle filling stations? If they are everywhere, then just say so. If commercial pressures mean that they are hidden then say where they are.

Sleep

Any accomodation at or near the event. Linking to the relevant district article may also be done, or even copy pasted from the relevant district article and then modifying it for the situation at the time of the event. Do make sure though, if you're doing the latter option, to make sure all of the info on accomodation facilities is up to date though by copyediting it, and finally do not forget to give attribution.

Go next

An optional section which can list different possibilities for follow-on activities:

A short selection of nearby cities which might be of particular interest to those who have been at the event. For example an airshow event article might list nearby cities with aircraft museums.
Later similar events - either link to the event articles, or the cities where the event will be held. For example an article on the 2024 Paris Olympics could list the 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane events.

Quick outline

{{pagebanner}}

==Understand==

==Get in==

==Get around==

==See==

==Do==

==Buy==

==Eat==

==Drink==

==Sleep==

==Cope==

==Stay safe==

==Go next==

Spelling and capitalisation

In general for spelling, use whatever variety is used for where it's hosted. So an event in Japan would be using American spelling while an event in Germany would be using British spelling. This also applies for the Commonwealth Games too. So if it were to be hosted in Canada or Australia, use those spellings respectively, and not Commonwealth spelling.

Events that are usually capitalised because it's an initialism such as the FIFA world cup or the RWC should remain as it is. Others such as Lightscape in Melbourne which are capitalised in the logo should not be capitalised. Otherwise Wikivoyage:Capitalisation applies.

On other language Wikivoyages

So far, only the English Wikivoyage has such an open policy on event articles, and most other language Wikivoyages do not allow for most events, as were the English Wikivoyage's event policy pre-2021. Note that while you may be reading this on the English Wikivoyage, it likely won't be the case elsewhere.