Community Calendar 2025

[ysabetwordsmith]

This community calendar provides a place to organize events in allbingo. Ideally, there will be periodic fests and challenges on different themes, organized by different people. If you would like to run an event here, please speak up! See the calendars from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 for ideas.


Organizing an Event

This community is a low-traffic, low-pressure, high-inspiration opportunity to organize an activity. Anyone can volunteer to host something. Two or more people can cohost the same event; this is a good idea if you want to participate but your availability varies. The requirements are pretty simple:

1) Pick a theme and a timespan. Ideally, aim for a month that doesn't already have an activity, but time-sensitive events may be allowed closer together as needed. If you're not sure of people's interest, you could post a query first and ask, especially if you have several possible themes or times in mind. Declare your interest so that your event can be added to the schedule. See a list of previous fests for ideas.

Given that we now have a lot of repeating fests, those can share a month with a unique fest. It would also help to spread out the repeating events so we don't have two of the same category in a row or two for the same season, and so on. We could use more fests from specific fandoms -- those have been popular in the past.

2) Post details for the parameters of the event. This needs to include at least the beginning and end dates, along with the theme. It helps to mention any unusual bingo patterns, communities, or prompt lists that would suit the event. You may want to generate and include a "public" card that anyone can use. You can use < textarea > before the card code and < / textarea > (remove the spaces) after the card code to create a box of code that people can copy to put the public card on their own blog. The same code box can be used to offer a list of thematic prompts for anyone wishing to make their own card from similar motifs.

It's not required, but hosts often break down a long list of prompts into sublists by topic. This works especially well in fandom-specific fests or other large topics. Popular sublists include characters, locations, things the canon was particularly known for (e.g. monster of the week, nerdy T-shirts), episode or issue titles, and quotes. The approach allows readers to choose a specific sublist or mix-and-match. Some players like to make several minicards instead of one big card.

Typically the event host will make an advance announcement about two weeks before the fest opens, with such things as a public card or a suggestion of where else to get an appropriate card, so that people can start making content. Then make an "event open" post on the first day it's open. You may advertise your fest on communities like fandomcalendar or fandom_on_dw if you want.

3) Make a "Meet and Greet" post if you wish. This is not required, and the frame questions can be as simple or complex as you wish. Basically it provides a place for folks to connect with each other based on common interests, and to squee about the theme.

4) Keep an eye on the activity. Ideally, answer questions about the event, encourage people to participate, cheer for the ones who post a bingo, etc. If an argument breaks out, remind people to play nice. You might want to do a little promotion in other relevant venues, but it's not required.

5) It helps to make a wrapup post at the end of the fest too, although this is also optional. Some people like to make a general badge, or custom badges for people who made bingo during the active month.

silvercat17 has written a post on "How to Host a Bingo Fest" along with a list of previous fests for examples.


Community Calendar for 2025

January

[recurring theme, but all new prompts each year]
Public Domain Day Bingo hosted by silvercat17
Many new works are entering the public domain. Use them with great enthusiasm!
Posting will be January 1-31.


February

[recurring]
Valentines Fest hosted by ysabetwordsmith
This fest features romantic ups and downs, along with platonic options.
Posting will be February 1-28.

See also the Aromantic February 2025 Prompt List by abyssal_sylph.


March

[new]
Tolkien Bingo Fest hosted by prisca
Come play in Middle Earth! This will include prompt lists and bingo cards for places, characters & creatures, quotes, general prompts, possibly more, plus a bigger card with a mix of all lists.
Posting will be March 1-31.


April

[recurring]
Drabble Fest hosted by siberian_skys
Write short works exactly 100 words long.
Posting will be April 1-30.

[new]
Aesthetics Bingo Fest hosted by ysabetwordsmith
Draw inspiration from styles of home decor, fashion, and more. Colors! Shapes! Moods, materials, and more!
Posting will be April 1-30.


May

[new] Colors Bingo Fest hosted by silvercat17
Inspired by the kind of prompts in rainbowlists, this is a bingo format challenge based on creative color names and related concepts.
Posting will be from May 1-31.


June

[new]
Pride Fest hosted by drabblewriter
Celebrate ALL the orientations!
Posting will be June 1-30.


July

[new]
Westerns hosted by ysabetwordsmith
Bring out your favorite Wild West fandoms, or contemporary west, or spaghetti western SF ... whatever shines your buckle.
Posting will be July 1-31.

[recurring]
Winter Fest in July hosted by vexed_wench and spiralicious
Beat the heat by focusing on winter holidays.
Posting will be July 1-31.


August

[new]
British Library Crime Classics hosted by smallhobbit
Themes from the Golden Age of crime, plus book titles.
Posting will be August 1-31.


September

[recurring]
Piracy Bingo Fest hosted by silvercat17
Arr, mateys! September 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Hoist the mainsail and start filling squares!
Posting will be September 1-30.


October

[recurring]
Fall Fest hosted by vexed_wench and spiralicious
Celebrate the motifs of autumn.
Posting will be October 1-31.


November

[new]
Fairy Tales and Fantasy Bingo Fest hosted by prisca
This fest will feature magical creatures, places, and stories. There will be several prompt lists and bingo cards.
Posting will be November 1-30.


December

[recurring]
Amnesty