bam/EVENT_DATES_GUIDE.md

Event Dates Management Guide

How to Block Sign-ups on Event Days

The sign-up form automatically closes at 3pm on specified event dates to prevent last-minute registrations.

Managing Event Dates

1. Open the event-dates.json file in the project root
2. Add or remove dates in the eventDates array
3. Use the format YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., "2024-12-25" for December 25, 2024)

Example Configuration

{
  "eventDates": ["2025-09-05", "1999-01-01"],
  "cutoffTime": "15:00",
  "message": "Sign-ups are closed for today's event. Please come back tomorrow."
}

Important Notes

• The cutoff time is set to 3pm (15:00) by default
• Sign-ups will automatically reopen at midnight after an event day
• Users will see a friendly message when sign-ups are closed
• The time zone follows the server's local time

Adding New Event Dates

Simply add a new date to the array:

"eventDates": [
  "2024-12-25",
  "2024-12-31",
  "2025-01-15",
  "2025-02-14",
  "2025-03-20"  // <- New date added
]

Remember to save the file after making changes!