# How to Create an Event and Enable Member Registration

## Overview

Events let you schedule activities — classes, field trips, co-op days — and give members a way to register directly through your site. This guide walks you through creating an event, configuring registration and pricing, publishing it, and what your members see when they sign up.

**Before you start:** Your co-op site must be active and your membership plans set up. If you are collecting payment for events, your Stripe account must be connected under **Payouts & Billing**.

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## Step 1: Navigate to Events

1. Sign in to your co-op admin panel.
2. In the left sidebar, click **Events**.

![Admin Events list — desktop view](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/portal-admin-events-desktop.png)

The Events page lists all your scheduled events. If you have not created any yet, you will see an empty state with a **New Event** button.

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## Step 2: Create a New Event

1. Click **New Event** (top-right corner, or the button in the empty state).

The event creation form opens.

![Create Event form — desktop view](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/portal-admin-events-create-desktop.png)

2. Fill in the event details:

| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| **Title** | A clear, recognizable name (e.g., "Spring Co-op Day", "Math Class — Week 12") |
| **Date** | The date the event takes place |
| **Start Time / End Time** | When the event begins and ends |
| **Location** | Physical address, room name, or "Online" for virtual events |
| **Description** | Details families need to know — what to bring, parking, etc. |

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## Step 3: Configure Registration Settings

In the same form, scroll to the **Registration** section.

| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Enable Registration** | Turn on so members can sign up for the event |
| **Capacity** | Maximum registrants. Leave blank for unlimited. |
| **Registration Opens** | Date and time when sign-ups become available |
| **Registration Closes** | Date and time when sign-ups close (optional) |

Set **Enable Registration** to on. Enter a **Capacity** if your venue or session has a limit; otherwise leave it blank.

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## Step 4: Set Event Pricing

Under **Pricing**, choose whether the event is free or paid.

### Free event

Select **Free**. Members register at no cost. No Stripe connection is required.

### Paid event

Select **Paid** and enter the price in dollars.

When members complete registration for a paid event, they receive a payment confirmation by email. Their payment receipt is available under **My Registrations** in their member account.

> **Note:** Use the **Free** option for $0 events rather than entering a price of $0.00. This keeps the registration flow simple and avoids unnecessary Stripe processing.

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## Step 5: Publish the Event

1. Once all settings are filled in, click **Publish Event**.

The event is now live on your co-op site. Members can see it on the public **Events** page and register from there.

> **Tip:** To save your work and return later without making the event visible to members, click **Save Draft** instead. Drafts appear only in the admin panel.

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## Step 6: Member Registration Experience

Here is what a member sees when they visit your Events page.

![Member-facing Events page — desktop view](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-07/events-desktop.png)

1. The member clicks the event title or a **Register** button.
2. The event detail page shows the date, time, location, and description.
3. For free events, the member clicks **Register**.  
   For paid events, the member clicks **Register & Pay** and enters payment details on a secure Stripe checkout page.
4. After completing registration, the member receives a payment confirmation by email and can view their spot under **My Registrations**.

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## Next Steps

- To view who has registered and track attendance, see [How to Manage Registrations and Track Attendance](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/books/getting-started).
- To contact registered members, see [How to Send Newsletters and Announcements](https://kb.cooplyhq.com/books/getting-started).