The Events Calendar Filter Bar is a dedicated search and discovery extension for WordPress calendars that allows users to narrow down event listings based on specific criteria. With over 800,000 active installs across the platform’s ecosystem, this add-on provides the essential logic needed to sort through high volumes of entries. It ensures attendees can find relevant programming based on location, time, and cost without manual scrolling.
WPExclusive members get access to Filter Bar as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full The Events Calendar collection →
What Is The Events Calendar Filter Bar?
The Events Calendar Filter Bar is developed by The Events Calendar and is an events plugin for WordPress. It belongs to the events category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for organizers and venue managers. The plugin acts as a bridge between a massive database of dates and the specific needs of an end-user.
Filter Bar solves the problem of cluttered calendars where users feel overwhelmed by too many options. It is designed for community calendars, major venues, and organizations that host a high frequency of recurring or multi-location sessions.
The Events Calendar Filter Bar Features
The feature set is built around providing a highly configurable interface for frontend navigation.
Comprehensive Search Criteria
The plugin adds a robust set of filters to event pages, allowing visitors to refine results by category, post tag, venue, and organizer. Users can also narrow their search by specific days of the week, time of day, and price points. In the events management workflow, these parameters are essential for helping attendees locate free weekend events or specific afternoon workshops.
Flexible Layout and Mobile Optimization
Administrators can choose between two distinct layout orientations to match their site design. The horizontal bar sits under the primary search options and works effectively for narrow sites or mobile views. A vertical sidebar layout is also available, which is best suited for full-width calendars on desktop displays.
Advanced Pro Integrations
Filter Bar integrates specifically with Events Calendar PRO to offer even more granular control. When both are active, a distance filter becomes available, complementing the location-based search functions. This allows users to find events within a specific walking or driving distance from their current position.
Pricing
Retail pricing for the standalone add-on starts at $99 per year for a single site license. WPExclusive members access it as part of their comprehensive plan which includes the base calendar and all Pro extensions.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard License | $99/year | 1 Site | Filter Bar + Support |
| Agency License | $299/year | 10 Sites | Filter Bar + Support |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | Filter Bar + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers Filter Bar plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The current version is 5.6.3. Recent updates have focused on improving how CSS styles load for better WordPress Customizer integration and ensuring compatibility with the latest block editor changes. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install
- Download the Filter Bar .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to Events → Settings → Filters to configure your active search fields
- Select your preferred layout (Horizontal or Vertical) and save changes
Use Cases
City-Wide Community Portals
Manage thousands of events across dozens of neighborhoods using the events category filters. Residents can filter by “Free” and “Parks” to find weekend family activities instantly.
Multi-Venue Music Festivals
Allow fans to sort performances by specific stages (venues) or genres (categories). This prevents lost ticket sales by ensuring users find the specific acts they are interested in attending.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Using WPExclusive allows agencies to deploy advanced filtering on every client site without skyrocketing costs. A single membership provides the entire calendar suite for unlimited client projects.
vs Alternatives
| Feature | Filter Bar | EventON | WP Eventin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout Options | Horizontal/Vertical | Tile/List | Grid/List |
| Distance Search | Yes (with Pro) | Limited | No |
| Custom Field Filter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting Price | $99 | $25 | $59 |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Browse the full events plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Deep integration with the entire Events Calendar ecosystem
- Native support for mobile-responsive horizontal layouts
- Extensive filter logic including time of day and price ranges
⚠️ Limitations
- Requires the free base Events Calendar plugin to be installed first
- Distance filtering is only unlocked if Events Calendar PRO is also active
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is The Events Calendar Filter Bar GPL Licensed?
Yes. The Events Calendar Filter Bar is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files — the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, no security risks.
Get The Events Calendar Filter Bar on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you The Events Calendar Filter Bar plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full The Events Calendar collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Events Calendar Filter Bar do?
The Events Calendar Filter Bar is an extension that adds a configurable set of search filters to your calendar. Filter Bar allows users to search events by category, tag, venue, organizer, price, and time.
Is The Events Calendar Filter Bar free?
No, this is a premium add-on. However, it can be accessed via a WPExclusive membership for as low as $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of The Events Calendar Filter Bar?
The plugin is actively maintained — the current version is 5.6.3. WPExclusive members always receive the most current release.
How much does The Events Calendar Filter Bar cost?
The retail price is $99/year per site. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use The Events Calendar Filter Bar via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
What are the best alternatives to The Events Calendar Filter Bar?
Top alternatives include EventON and WP Eventin. All are available on WPExclusive within the same membership if you wish to compare their filtering capabilities.
