Retrieving public events from band pages using Facebook Graph API

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1

I’m struggling with the Facebook Graph API and Python SDK. I’m trying to get all events from a band’s page. Both the page and events are public, so I thought using the app token would be enough.

When I query the API for one band, I get no results with the app token. But when I use an access token with public profile scope, I get the correct two events. This is confusing because it works fine for other band pages using just the app token.

I need to show these events on our website, so getting an access token for each visitor isn’t an option. Is there a way to fetch all public events consistently with just the app token?

Here’s a simple code example:

import facebook

graph = facebook.GraphAPI(app_token)
events = graph.get_connections('bandname', 'events')
print(events)

Any ideas why this works for some pages but not others? The only difference I’ve noticed is that the problematic events have multiple hosts. Help would be appreciated!

2

I’ve dealt with similar Facebook API quirks before. One thing that’s helped me is using a long-lived Page Access Token instead of the App Token. You’ll need to set up the OAuth flow, but it’s worth it for more reliable access.

To get a long-lived token:

  1. Get a short-lived token via OAuth
  2. Exchange it for a long-lived token
  3. Use that to get a Page Access Token

Then use it like this:

graph = facebook.GraphAPI(long_lived_page_token)
events = graph.get_connections(‘page_id’, ‘events’)

This approach has given me more consistent results, especially for pages with complex settings. Just remember to refresh the token every 60 days or so.

If you’re still having trouble, check if those problematic events have any special restrictions like age limits or geo-fencing. Sometimes those can affect visibility even for ‘public’ events. Good luck!

3

Have you considered using the Page Access Token instead of the App Token? I’ve found that sometimes the Page Access Token provides more consistent access to event data, especially for pages with complex settings or multiple admins.

To get a Page Access Token, you’d need to use the Graph API Explorer or implement the OAuth flow in your app. Once you have it, you can use it like this:

graph = facebook.GraphAPI(page_access_token)
events = graph.get_connections('page_id', 'events')

This approach might solve your issue with inconsistent results. Just remember to refresh the token periodically as they can expire. Also, make sure your app has the ‘pages_read_engagement’ permission to access page data.

If this doesn’t work, you might need to dive deeper into the specific permissions and settings of those problematic pages. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of finding the right combination of tokens and permissions.

4

hey there! i’ve run into similar issues with the FB API. one thing to check is if those problematic events have age restrictions or location limits. that can sometimes mess with app token access even for public events. might be worth double-checking the event settings on those specific pages to see if theres anything unusual. good luck!