---
title: VCEDC Events Calendar & KIT Integration Pattern
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2026-01-06-vcedc-site-touch-base-112062437.md
tags:
- wordpress
- events-calendar
- kit
- convertkit
- crm
- event-registration
- automation
- vcedc
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# VCEDC Events Calendar & KIT Integration Pattern

## Overview

When a client uses KIT (formerly ConvertKit) as their primary CRM, all event registrations captured through a WordPress Events Calendar plugin must funnel into KIT — not remain siloed in WordPress. This pattern documents the required workflow, the rationale, and the constraints that shaped the decision for the VCEDC site rebuild.

This came up during a January 2026 site review where the Events page was found broken and the KIT integration had not yet been configured. See the source meeting notes for full context.

---

## The Core Requirement

> "Everything has to funnel from WordPress into KIT."
> — Tracey Pilsner, VCEDC project coordinator

KIT is the client's official CRM and email marketing platform. All subscriber data — including event registrants — must land there so that:

- Contacts are centralized for bulk email and marketing automation
- Event-specific automations (confirmation emails, follow-ups) can be triggered from KIT
- Staff turnover doesn't create data silos or orphaned contacts in WordPress

This is a **non-negotiable integration requirement**, not an optional enhancement.

---

## Proposed Workflow

1. **Create events in WordPress** using The Events Calendar plugin
2. **Integrate the plugin with KIT** so that new registrants are automatically added as KIT subscribers
3. **Apply event-specific tags in KIT** at the point of registration (e.g., `event-jan-20-2026`)
4. **Trigger KIT automations** from those tags (confirmation emails, reminders, follow-ups)

This mirrors how VCEDC previously handled events via a third-party system (SiteCast), where a unique KIT tag ID was embedded as the trigger. The new WordPress-native approach should replicate that tagging behavior directly.

---

## Prior Art: How VCEDC Used Tags Before

In the previous setup (SiteCast + ConvertKit):

- Each event had a **unique tag in KIT** (e.g., tag ID `101-3764`)
- That tag ID was embedded in the SiteCast event configuration
- Registration triggered the tag, which fired a KIT automation sequence

The new implementation should achieve the same outcome: each WordPress event maps to a KIT tag, and registration applies that tag to the subscriber record.

---

## Design Constraints

| Constraint | Detail |
|---|---|
| **No complex custom code** | Solution must be maintainable by future staff without developer involvement |
| **WordPress remains the event creation tool** | Staff create and manage events in the WP dashboard via The Events Calendar |
| **KIT remains the CRM** | All contacts, automations, and email sends live in KIT — not WordPress |
| **Simple enough to hand off** | If the project coordinator or agency relationship ends, a non-technical staff member must be able to operate the system |

---

## Implementation Status (as of January 2026)

- [ ] Events page broken — no content rendering (Isahaque to fix)
- [ ] Events Calendar plugin installed but not configured to display events
- [ ] KIT integration not yet set up
- [ ] Three events exist in WordPress but are not surfaced on the frontend
- [ ] Jan 20th event copy pending from client (Tracey to obtain and share)

KIT credentials are stored in LastPass under `kit.com`.

---

## Open Questions for Implementation

- Which plugin or method will connect Events Calendar registrations to KIT? (native integration, Zapier, or a KIT-specific WordPress plugin)
- Will each event get its own KIT tag, or will a single "event registrant" tag be used with segments?
- How will existing WordPress form submissions (general contact) be distinguished from event registrations in KIT?

Isahaque was asked to investigate and propose a simple integration method before the follow-up meeting.

---

## Related

- [[clients/vcedc/_index]] — Client overview
- [[knowledge/crm/kit-tagging-strategy]] — General KIT tagging patterns
- [[knowledge/wordpress/events-calendar-plugin-setup]] — Plugin configuration notes