Festivals, concerts, sports, and other events happen everywhere, all the time. No matter which you prefer or even if you enjoy all of them, how do you know what’s going on and when? One of the best ways to find out is with your mobile device.
Whether you’re sitting on the couch looking for something to do or are already out and deciding where to go after dinner, these are the best free mobile apps to find events in your area.
1. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is one of the greatest event apps for finding local happenings of all kinds. Music festivals, craft shows, and even bar crawls are right at your fingertips.
Enable access to your location to see what’s happening around you, or search by city. The app then gives you dates, times, locations, maps, and similar events. You can also check ticket prices and order those that are available.
You can browse events by category or search for something specific. Plus, you can share happenings with your friends or save your favorites with a free account. Eventbrite has it all, but there are plenty of Eventbrite alternatives if you’d like something different.
Download: Eventbrite for Android | iOS (Free)
2. All Events in City
True to its name, you can also find events in your area with All Events in City. From sports and art to workshops and seminars, you can find just the right occasion for you.
Pop in your city to begin and then browse the events listed by category. You can tap to see all events within a category, like Entertainment or Upcoming. Then, narrow your results by subcategories such as Concerts or Comedy.
All Events in City gives you the dates, times, and locations as well as descriptions, maps, and ticket links. What’s great about this app is the ability to mark if you are attending, contact the organizer, add it to your calendar, and share it with friends—all from one spot.
Download: All Events in City for Android | iOS (Free)
3. Unation
Unation lets you discover events or search for them easily. Set up a free account and then browse by location. You can narrow down your options with filters for staff picks, recently added, interests, location, date, or creator.
So if you are looking only for fashion, family, or fitness events, you can tap to find those quickly. Then review the dates, times, locations, descriptions, and see who else is attending from the user group. You can mark if you plan to go, which makes getting together with friends who also use Unation easy.
If an event requires tickets, you can check prices and proceed with ordering right from the app. Unation is a good tool for planning outings with others.
Download: Unation for Android | iOS (Free)
4. 10times
For fairs, expos, trade shows, farmers’ markets, and other enjoyable events, 10times is a solid events app. It may not be as fancy as some others, but it gives you the details you need for nearby happenings.
Set up a free account, select your interests, and then see what events are taking place. The tabs let you review upcoming, nearby, or trending options. The app shows all details for dates, times, descriptions, and the organizer’s information.
You can set up reminders, invite others, and mark if you plan to attend. 10times offers a bit extra because you can also use it to find businesses in your area. This makes the app a useful all-purpose option.
Download: 10times for Android | iOS (Free)
5. Ticketmaster
Maybe the types of events you like are a bit bigger than local art shows or business workshops. For sporting, theater, and live music events, Ticketmaster is well-known. Find your events, purchase your tickets, and you’re on your way to a fun-filled day or evening.
You can look for events based on your location or enter a city name. Then browse by popular, nearby, this weekend, or upcoming events.
If you use Ticketmaster online, you can log into your account in the app. Get event details with dates, times, locations, accessibility, parking, and a map. Then check out seating for the venue, ticket prices, and make a purchase if you’re ready to go.
Download: Ticketmaster for Android | iOS (Free)
6. Meetup
Since its founding way back in 2002, Meetup has grown to become one of the most popular events apps available.
The brand inadvertently found itself in the middle of the 2019 WeWork storm, following the real estate company’s 2017 buyout. However, in March 2020 it changed hands again and its long-term future appears secure.
The app focuses on local in-person meetups and events. More than 225,000 meetup groups around the world use the app to list local events in 130 countries.
Download: Meetup for Android | iOS (Free)
7. LikeALocal
One of the hardest times to find something to do nearby is when you’re in a foreign country. And because time is typically limited when you’re abroad, you don’t want to waste time visiting museums, restaurants, and other attractions that aren’t up to scratch.
That’s where LikeALocal is useful. All the recommendations and events listed in the app are vetted by someone who lives in the area. It helps you to avoid tourist traps and gimmicks, letting you see the real face of the city you’re visiting instead.
The standout feature is the smart stream. It’s a real-time feed of open attractions and events happening nearby. You can download all the content for offline reading to save your data while you’re roaming.
Sadly, the app is only available on iOS.
Download: LikeALocal for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
8. Facebook
We’ve all heard the stories of Facebook events getting wildly out of control, with thousands of people turning up to birthday parties and the like. Those stories alone are a testament to Facebook’s ability to find events in your town.
Even if you’re not an active Facebook user, remember that hundreds of restaurants, businesses, and activity groups in your area do maintain an active profile. It’s even fairly common to see them offering discounts and promotions to people who reference a particular post. And with maps, attendee lists, and event management tools, Facebook is a surprisingly holistic event app.
Disclaimer: MakeUseOf does not condone crashing birthday parties unannounced!
Download: Facebook for Android | iOS (Free)
9. StubHub
If you like the idea of larger events and ticket purchasing all in one app, but want a Ticketmaster alternative, try StubHub. It lets you explore what’s going on by location or category like sports, theater, or music.
Similar to Ticketmaster, you can see all event details, check the seating map, view ticket prices, and make a purchase. If you sign in or sign up for a free account, you can use the price alert feature.
You may not find smaller events like festivals or parades, but if you would rather go big, the app is worth checking out.
Download: StubHub for Android | iOS (Free)
10. Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another app for finding local events with ticket purchasing. Select a city and state from the list, view suggested events nearby, and then buy tickets.
Like Ticketmaster and StubHub, the events you see in Vivid Seats are on a large scale. So for concerts, sports, and theater, it’s a nice option.
You can filter results you see by event type, category, dates, or date range. While Vivid Seats doesn’t have quite as many event details as the others, it’s still worth checking out.
A pair of features that stand out are Scan Your Music and Connect to Spotify, which provide help in finding events. If you want to see when one of your favorite artists will be in town, this is an awesome way to find out.
Download: Vivid Seats for Android | iOS (Free)
Get Ready, Get Set, Go Out!
Whether for business or pleasure, large or small, these mobile apps for events can help you find fun goings-on in your area.
For something a bit more focused, check out the best restaurant picker apps to help you decide where to eat. You can also find plenty to do online when you’re bored if going out isn’t in the cards for now.
Read the full article: The 10 Best Apps for Discovering Events Happening Around You
