Innovation

**Pitch it. Mean it.** A meetup for people who design, sell and promote digital products. We’ve all been there: You have an idea that really clicks—but how do you convey it in 60 seconds so that the person you’re talking to immediately understands what it’s all about? That’s exactly what this evening is all about. We’ll start with a concise introduction to the basics of pitching—what makes a good pitch, which structures work, and what really matters. Then there will be a keynote talk to get the evening off to a lively start. In the workshop, we’ll prepare pitches together. Then it’s time to get serious: Everyone will have the chance to try out their own pitch under real-world conditions. Bring your idea. Or just your curiosity. Either one is enough.

\*\***Please RSVP on our official Friends of Figma page:** [https://friends.figma.com/events/details/figma-zurich-presents-speak-the-room/](https://friends.figma.com/events/details/figma-zurich-presents-speak-the-room/)\*\* For our next Friends of Figma Zurich meetup, we're heading to Constructor Nexademy, a place built on the belief that learning doesn't stop when school does! An evening of lightning talks, live demos and honest conversations, hosted by a team that's been helping people reinvent their careers and grow new skills outside the traditional classroom. 📅 Date & time: 19 May 2026, 18:00 📍 Location: Constructor Nexademy, Förrlibuckstrasse 150, 1st floor, Zürich Agenda for the evening: 18:00 Welcome 18:30 Talks + Q&A 19:15 Apéro and chats 🍷 What's on the lightning talks & demos agenda? 🏫 Meet Constructor Nexademy An introduction to Constructor Nexademy, who they are, what they build, and how they're training the next generation of developers and AI practitioners in Zürich. 🎤 How AI can help designers translate their work into influence with Flore de Crombrugghe Design without influence is just decoration. This talk is a retrospective on PitchPivot, an AI tool built to help designers translate their work into business language. More than a project recap, it's an argument: designers already have what it takes to earn a seat at the table. They just need to learn to speak the room. Short talks, demos and plenty of time to connect during the apéro. Curious how designers are turning their craft into real business influence? Come join us ✨👉 [https://friends.figma.com/events/details/figma-zurich-presents-speak-the-room/](https://friends.figma.com/events/details/figma-zurich-presents-speak-the-room/)

**Start the week at the Dancehall Beginner Class at The Vibe!** Whether you’ve never danced before or just want to move your body and have a good time! This beginner-friendly class introduces you to the infectious rhythms, bold moves, and playful energy of Jamaican Dancehall. Learn fun grooves, body isolations, and simple choreography while building confidence, coordination, and musicality. Perfect for anyone new to dance or looking to add some high-energy flavor to their week! Your teacher Camilla ([@caminowww](https://www.instagram.com/caminowww?igsh=MWF4eHY5aGVyNzlreg==)) will guide you through all the steps, help you feel the rhythm in your body, and hype you up from start to finish! *Don’t be fooled by the number of people on the event page — our weekly crew ranges from 10 to 20 amazing humans: first-timers, regulars, and a few silent fans who never mark “going” but always show up 😉* \*\*\* ### **Booking is mandatory!** To secure your spot, please book in advance via our website: [BOOK HERE](https://www.thevibedance.ch/schedule) \*\*\* ### **Rates** 💃 **Single Class: CHF 29** **Special offer for NEW students:** **Starter Pack (2-Class) for CHF 35** \*\*\* ### **When?** **TUESDAY** **20:30 – 21:30 \| Beginner Dancehall** \*\*\* ### **Where?** **The Vibe Dance Studio** Hohlstrasse 488 8048 Zürich (Just 3 minutes from Altstetten Train Station and 15 min from HB) \*\*\* ### **More info:** 🌐 [thevibedance.ch](https://thevibedance.ch/) 📸 Instagram: [@caminoww](https://www.instagram.com/caminowww?igsh=MWF4eHY5aGVyNzlreg==) Got questions? Just text or call: 📞 +41 78 329 71 77 \*\*\* **See you on the dance floor – let’s Dancehall together!** 💥🫶💃

**Shake off the week at the Reggaeton Beginner Class at The Vibe!** Whether you’ve never danced before or just want to move your body and have a good time, this class is all about good energy, Latin beats, and letting loose. Expect empowering Reggaeton grooves, body rolls, confidence-boosting combos, and a whole lot of fun — no pressure, no judgment, just pure VIBES! Your teacher Nat ([@nat.so.fun](http://@nat.so.fun)) will guide you through all the steps, help you feel the rhythm in your body, and hype you up from start to finish! *Don’t be fooled by the number of people on the event page — our weekly crew ranges from 10 to 20 amazing humans: first-timers, regulars, and a few silent fans who never mark “going” but always show up 😉* \*\*\* ### **Booking is mandatory!** To secure your spot, please book in advance via our website: [BOOK HERE](https://www.thevibedance.ch/schedule) \*\*\* ### **Rates** 💃 **Single Class: CHF 29** **Special offer for NEW students:** **Starter Pack (2-Class) for CHF 35** \*\*\* ### **When?** **TUESDAY** **18:30 – 19:30 \| Beginner Reggaeton** \*\*\* ### **Where?** **The Vibe Dance Studio** Hohlstrasse 488 8048 Zürich (Just 3 minutes from Altstetten Train Station and 15 min from HB) \*\*\* ### **More info:** 🌐 [thevibedance.ch](https://thevibedance.ch/) 📸 Instagram: [[@nat.so.fun](http://@nat.so.fun)]([https://www.instagram.com/nat.so.fun](https://www.instagram.com/nat.so.fun)\) \| \[[@thevibedance.ch](http://@thevibedance.ch)]([https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch](https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch)) Got questions? Just text or call: 📞 +41 78 329 71 77 \*\*\* **See you on the dance floor – let’s Reggaeton together!** 💥🫶💃

Hi everyone, Following the fantastic energy of our first gathering of 2026 at Horn & Company in January—where we kicked off the year with three insightful speeches—we are excited to keep that momentum going! While the January session gave us plenty of food for thought, this next meetup is all about the community. We’re organizing an informal evening to reconnect, discuss the latest in People Analytics, or simply enjoy a drink with fellow practitioners before the summer begins. The gathering will take place at a central, relaxed venue near Zurich HB (details will follow and be shared with all registered participants – make sure to share your email during registration as a prerequisite). This is a "pay-your-own-way" event - you can order drinks and snacks as you wish. **Date and Time:** Tuesday, 19 May 2026 @ 18:30 – 20:00 **Location:** Near Zurich HB - details will follow and be shared with all registered participants on Meetup. **Costs:** This is a "pay-your-own-way" event. You can order drinks and snacks as you wish. **Registration:** meetup.com/people-analytics-switzerland (RSVP close time on Thu, 14 May at 23:00) **Contact:** marco.selva@ferris.ai / andre@obereigner.co We are looking forward to seeing you there. Best regards, Marco and Andre

**Come join us for the** **Beginner** **Street Dance Class** and discover Hip Hop, Commercial, Street Jazz, and more, learn useful moves, and get more confidence on a dance floor! Your teacher - **Nat ([@nat.so.fun](http://@nat.so.fun))** will guide you through all the steps, help you better understand the music, and groove with you to the best tracks. After the class, we'll head to the bar next door to chat, laugh, and relax together. **Come and vibe with us!** Don't get discouraged by the number of people on the event page. **Our weekly crew ranges from 10 to 25 amazing humans**—regulars, first-timers, and those who skip the ‘going’ button but never miss a class 😉 [Check out what the class looks like here!](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK14dCKq9Tv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MXNtemlvcGR1Y3F3dw==) **Booking is mandatory!** To ensure your participation in the class, it is mandatory to book a spot in advance. Please **visit the studio's website to book the class:** [BOOK HERE!](https://www.thevibedance.ch) *Rates?* 💃 **Single Class: CHF 29** **Special offer for NEW students: Starter Pack (2-Class) for CHF 35** *When?* **TUESDAY** 19:30 \- 20:30 \| Beginner Dance Class \+ after training drinks *Where?* **The Vibe Dance Studio** Hohlstrasse 488 8048 Zürich \~3 min from Altstetten Train Station and 15 min from HB *More info:* Website [thevibedance.ch](https://www.thevibedance.ch) Instagram [[@nat.so.fun](http://@nat.so.fun)]([https://www.instagram.com/nat.so.fun/](https://www.instagram.com/nat.so.fun/)) and [[@thevibedance.ch](http://@thevibedance.ch)]([https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==](https://www.instagram.com/thevibedance.ch?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==)) **Have a question? DM us on Instagram or Contact us via Whatsapp:** +41 78 329 71 77 **See you on the dance floor!**

Let's meet at the CNC meetup on Thursday, May 21st, 2026, at 15:00 CET. **Location:** VSHNtower, 8th floor, Neugasse 10, 8005 Zürich **Agenda:** Would you like to speak at this event? Contact us at [https://cnc-meetup.ch](https://cnc-meetup.ch)! Guidelines: * All sessions are held in English. * No product or sales pitches are allowed. * All projects showcased should be open source. * We cannot cover travel costs, but we welcome speakers from other regions. * We're seeking more diversity among our speakers: underrepresented groups are welcome! 14:30 – Door Opening 15:00 – Welcome, Intro, & Announcements 15:05 – Kuberik: Safe, Hands-Off Deployments for Kubernetes (Luka Rumora) 15:35 – 5 minutes pause 15:40 – Kubernetes Without the Operator: A Minecraft Panel with Rust and kube-rs (Hadi Cherkaoui, CM Informatik AG) 16:10 – 5 minutes pause 16:15 – Vibe Code Survival Guide for Open-Source (Vadim Bauer, 8gears) 16:45 – 5 minutes pause 16:50 - Writing a Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler Provider with externalgrpc (Marco De Luca, VSHN) 17:20 – Final words, networking & apéro Kuberik: Safe, Hands-Off Deployments for Kubernetes (Luka Rumora) Most teams deploying to Kubernetes end up in one of two places: either GitOps that stops at applying manifests, or brittle CI pipelines full of bash and glue. Both fall short of true end-to-end delivery. The ideal is well known—canaries, health checks, smoke tests, promotions, rollback—but Kubernetes lacks a native, reusable way to compose these without reinventing everything. Existing tools solve pieces (Argo Rollouts, Flagger, Kargo), but not the whole pipeline. Kuberik fills that gap: it orchestrates the full journey from release to production—detecting, gating, rolling out, verifying, and promoting—using opinionated, pluggable Kubernetes resources that integrate with existing GitOps setups. Luka is a Lead SRE with 10 years of experience building platform infrastructure and internal developer tooling, always with the same focus: systems that are robust, easy to maintain, and a pleasure to use. Over the years, he has watched the delivery tooling landscape change, from Jenkins to GitLab CI to Drone to GitHub Actions, yet the fundamental approach to CD has stayed the same: step-based pipelines with the same challenges they had a decade ago. He built Kuberik because he believes we can do better. Kubernetes Without the Operator: A Minecraft Panel with Rust and kube-rs (Hadi Cherkaoui, CM Informatik AG) Anvil is a Kubernetes-native Minecraft server panel written in Rust. It creates one StatefulSet, PVC, and Service per server through direct kube-rs calls, with no CRD and no controller. The Kubernetes API itself is the runtime state store; every user action is a direct API call. This 20-minute talk argues that the operator pattern is sometimes the wrong tool. Controllers earn their complexity when there's autonomous state to reconcile. They become a ceremony when there isn't. Anvil is a worked example of the imperative alternative, running on a home lab k0s cluster. Hadi Cherkaoui is a 17-year-old EFZ Plattformentwickler apprentice at CM Informatik AG in Schwerzenbach, ZH. He works daily with k0s and FluxCD, and is interested in Kubernetes, Rust, infrastructure automation, and homelab projects. Vibe Code Survival Guide for Open-Source (Vadim Bauer, Container-Registry.ch) Vibe code is flooding open-source projects with an ever-growing volume of pull requests and ideas. Banning AI contributions isn't the answer, yet it is difficult to resist. How can open source projects survive and keep progressing despite the pressure? This talk covers the project playbook we're building in CNCF Harbor and Harbor Satellite: defining a clear project direction so contributors, human or AI-assisted, know what's in scope before they contribute. Setting explicit acceptance criteria and guardrails. Using AI on the maintainer side to triage, review, and filter the growing volume of contributions. Deciding as a project where your boundaries are, what's core, what's an extension, and what's out of scope, so you stop drowning in well-intentioned feature PRs that slowly erode coherence. We share what works, what fails, and how we are rethinking open-source, contributions, community, and project Vadim Bauer is a Container Silverback with over a decade of experience in running containers in production. As a maintainer of the CNCF project Harbor, he focuses on extending the boundaries of OCI artifact management, adoption, and developer experience. At 8gears, Vadim helps cloud providers, ISVs, and enterprises adopt Harbor and use OCI capabilities. Writing a Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler Provider with externalgrpc (Marco De Luca, VSHN) The Kubernetes Cluster Autoscaler decides when to scale, but it doesn't know how to create a VM. That's the cloud provider's job, and the upstream tree covers mostly big clouds. With externalgrpc, you can plug virtually any cloud into the autoscaler over gRPC. This talk first looks at how the Cluster Autoscaler works under the hood and where the cloud provider fits in. Then we walk through implementing one for a Swiss IaaS provider as an out-of-tree gRPC service: the design choices, the parts of the contract that matter, and the gotchas you only find by reading the autoscaler source. By the end, you'll know how to attach autoscaling to a cloud that isn't on the upstream list. Marco De Luca is a software/infrastructure engineer at VSHN AG. He spends most of his time on Kubernetes platforms, developer tooling, and making sure things don't break at 3 AM. At mdnix.io, he writes about infrastructure, Linux, Kubernetes, and the things he builds along the way. When he's not behind a terminal, he's somewhere in the Alps with his camera or having a private jam session with his guitar. The event will be recorded and made available on VSHN's YouTube channel: [https://vshn.tv](https://vshn.tv). Subscribe to stay notified of updates. We expect all participants to abide by VSHN's Conference Code of Conduct: [https://www.vshn.ch/en/code-of-conduct/](https://www.vshn.ch/en/code-of-conduct/) If you would like to share your cloud-native projects at the CNC Switzerland meetup events or sponsor future events, just send us your talk suggestion here: https://cnc-meetup.ch. We look forward to hearing from you!

**Beschreibung:** Suchst du ein Thai-Box Training in Zürich, das Spass macht und dich gleichzeitig fitter macht? Dann bist du hier genau richtig. In dieser kleinen Gruppe (max. 8 Personen) kombinieren wir: \*Thai-Box Technik (Basics & Kombinationen) * Fitness & Conditioning \*gemeinsames Training in entspannter Atmosphäre 👉 Einsteiger sind ausdrücklich willkommen. Du brauchst keine Vorerfahrung – wir starten gemeinsam und bauen alles Schritt für Schritt auf. Mein Ziel: Dir ein Training zu geben, bei dem du: * etwas Neues lernst \*dich auspowerst * und mit einem guten Gefühl nach Hause gehst Trainingssprache ist Deutsch, ich kann aber auch auf Englisch unterstützen. 📍 Ort: Zürich Höngg (Meierhofplatz) 🕒 Mittwoch 18:00 👥 Max. 8 Teilnehmer 👉 Melde dich an und probier es aus. # 🔧 Meetup Group Description (ENGLISH) **Group Name:** Thai Boxing & Fitness Training Zurich (Beginners Welcome) **Description:** Looking for a Thai boxing training in Zurich that is fun and improves your fitness? Then this group is for you. In a small group setting (max. 10 people), we combine: \*Thai boxing technique (basics & combinations) * fitness & conditioning \*a relaxed and supportive training environment 👉 Beginners are very welcome. No prior experience needed – we build everything step by step. My goal is to give you a training where you: * learn something new \*push your limits * and leave feeling great The training is mainly in German, but I can also support in English.

Hello everyone, Welcome to this new beach volleyball openplay at Zürich Buchlern 🤗 During this event, you’ll have the chance to meet new people, play friendly matches and learn the basic techniques, if you wish. This event is aimed at everyone that has never played before or a long time ago and is not sure to be able to pass the ball properly over the net or to someone. If you think you're comfortable playing, I invite you to join the advanced events of Marius: [https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-avsypajv/.](https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-avsypajv/.) **Tips:** \- Bring a water bottle \(there's a drinking fountain next to the courts\) \- Bring **sunglasses**, sunscreen and a cap \- The courts can usually be watered\, except in rare cases \- so it's good to bring suitable socks if it's hot **Practical details and participation conditions:** \- A small contribution is required for court rental and other organisational expenses\, please pay before the event via TWINT at \+41784053495 by **writing your name and date of the event** or cash the day of the event. \- For any inquiries\, please **only message me on Meetup** \- Please only sign up through Meetup for an easier organisation \- Please cancel at least 24 hours in advance if you can’t make it\, so others can sign up or I can reschedule the session \- If you don't cancel and do not show\, cover your share to keep it fair for everyone\. \- If it's raining\, the event will be cancelled as it's difficult to book 2 indoor beach courts\. **Price per person:** CHF 6.5 **!No shows!** Lately, there has been quite some no-shows. Therefore, I remind you to sign out 24 hours before the event if you're not sure to come. So that people in the waiting list can join instead. The court is not free, any no-show means wasted cost. In case of a no-show and no payment, I have no choice but to impeach you from signing up again by excluding you from the group 😣

**Beer, Pizza and AIoT Meetup (**[5plus2.de](http://5plus2.de) and [botcraft.de](botcraft.de)) AGENDA 18:30-19:00: Pizza and Beer (other drinks available) 19:00-19:30: Ashley Gibbons ([5plus2.de](http://5plus2.de)) - Product‑Led Marketing for AI and IoT 19:30-20:00: Daniel Carton ([botcraft.de](botcraft.de)) - Dark Factories: How Industry 4.0 comes alive with Agentic Automation 20:00-21:00: Networking Look forward to seeing you all there. Due to limited capacity, we reserve the right to restrict admission. Pizza, beer and seats first come first serve! :)

RSVP here: [https://www.rsv.pizza/zug](https://www.rsv.pizza/zug?utm_source=luma) *** ​🍕 Join us at CV Labs Zug as we celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day, a milestone moment in crypto history marking the first real world Bitcoin transaction, when 10,000 BTC were famously exchanged for two pizzas in 2010! ​What started as a simple purchase has become a global symbol of how far the ecosystem has come and a reminder of the innovation still ahead. **​What to expect:** * ​Free pizza & good vibes * ​Bitcoin & crypto enthusiasts sharing insights * ​Good conversations into the world of bitcoin & other cryptocurrencies ​RSVP on the [PizzaDAO website](https://www.rsv.pizza/zug?utm_source=luma) to secure your spot. ​Whether you are deeply embedded in the space or just getting started, this is the perfect opportunity to plug into one of the world’s most active blockchain communities

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn together, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

**To reserve your spot for this event go here --> https://luma.com/8yl7hchk** This event is sure to max out so reserve your spot today and learn the venue after registration. Black Tech Week is pulling up to Columbus and we want you there! On May 20th, we're bringing together entrepreneurs, builders, innovators, and changemakers for a night of real conversation about tech, business, and what it takes to create something that lasts. Whether you're deep in a startup, exploring your next move, or just hungry to connect with people who are actually doing the work, this is your evening. ​Black Tech Week is a movement dedicated to celebrating and amplifying Black innovators and entrepreneurs across tech and beyond. This Columbus meetup is one stop on a much bigger journey, and the energy we build in rooms like this one is exactly what fuels that mission. Expect good vibes, genuine connections, and conversations that go beyond small talk. ​Doors open at 5:30 PM, so come ready to mix, mingle, and leave with a few new contacts and maybe a few new ideas. Spots go fast, so lock yours in now and we will see you there.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

Join the Columbus AI community for our quarterly gathering — a casual, community-focused evening where everyone has a chance to share, learn, and connect. These open mic–style events give anyone in the community up to **5 minutes** to present a project, share a tool, pose a question, or offer a perspective on the evolving AI space. No slides required — just a welcoming space to exchange ideas and keep the local AI conversation moving. If you’d like to take the stage, message \*\*Chris (the organizer)\*\*with a **title and short description** of what you’d like to share. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)

Get ready to connect, collaborate, and grow your community at the ***Smashing Your Sales Goals (SYSG) Spring Meet-N-Greet!*** *Smash Nation*— a vibrant and welcoming community for creative consultants, social innovators, professional service providers, entrepreneur support professionals, and the small business ecosystem builders —invites you to join in welcoming the Spring 2026 Cohort of dedicated business owners ready to take their venture to the next level. Join ***SYSG*** cohort members, trainers, sponsors, and partners for an engaging and interactive networking experience. This isn't just another meet-and-greet; it's a dynamic opportunity to gather, strengthen relationships, and actively brainstorm business development opportunities in a relaxed and supportive environment. Come ready to: * ***Connect*** with key players and potential collaborators in the small business community. * ***Share*** your successes, challenges, and insights with peers. * ***Brainstorm*** innovative strategies for sales and business growth. * ***Discover*** new partnerships and future partners. Let's amplify our collective impact and smash those sales goals together! **Who Should Attend:** Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025 Cohort Members, Spring 2026 Cohort members, Trainers, Facilitators, Program Sponsors, Future Sponsors, Velocity Applicants, and Program Partners. **When**: Tuesday, May 26, 2926 **Where**: Warner Wood Park and Pavilion [4747 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Warner+Woods+Park+%26+Pavilion/@40.0999435,-82.8601323,839m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x88385f0025d4381b:0xc15eb51285691f4f!8m2!3d40.1002108!4d-82.8612015!16s%2Fg%2F11wb2pg50g?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwNS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) **Time**: 4pm-6pm [To Officially Register Go To --> https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true) Meet ***Smashing Your Sales Goals*** expert trainers, sales coaches, community supporters and partners. Learn more about upcoming SYSG events, trainings coaching opportunities to help take your business from surviving to thriving today! This event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!