MCP server

FindLocal runs a remote Model Context Protocol server so an AI assistant can answer "what's on near me?" from live venue calendars, with links back to every event.

Endpoint

https://mcp.findlocal.community/mcp

• Transport: Streamable HTTP. A legacy /sse endpoint exists for older clients.
• Auth: OAuth 2.1 with PKCE and dynamic client registration (/authorize, /token, /register), then a one-field consent page asking for your API key.
• Scope: mcp:read. The server is read-only.

Connect a client

Claude.ai (web and desktop)

1. Open Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector.
2. Paste https://mcp.findlocal.community/mcp and save, then Connect.
3. Enter your API key on the FindLocal page that opens. In a chat, keep the FindLocal connector toggled on.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http findlocal https://mcp.findlocal.community/mcp

Cursor

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (or the project's .cursor/mcp.json) and restart Cursor:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "findlocal": { "url": "https://mcp.findlocal.community/mcp" }
  }
}

Any other client

Anything that speaks Streamable HTTP with OAuth works. To poke at the tools without a chat client:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector
# transport: Streamable HTTP · URL: https://mcp.findlocal.community/mcp

API keys and quotas

Usage is metered against your account's monthly quota (shared by all its keys) so the service stays healthy. On the consent page, paste an API key from your dashboard (free account) — the same key works for both the MCP server and the JSON API. Plans:

Create a free account and make a key in the dashboard. Once authorized you won't be asked again for that client. Ask the assistant to run get_usage to see calls used and remaining. When a quota is exhausted, tools return a clear "Monthly quota reached" message instead of partial data. The server stores the API key and a per-month counter — nothing about your conversations.

Tools

Categories: music, comedy, theater, dance, literary, film, talks, art, food_drink, family, market, workshop, fitness, nightlife, community, festival, parks. Cities can be given by name ("New York") or slug ("new-york"); all 84 (US and UK) are listed in the full reference.

What an event looks like in a result

{
  "id": "8f9b9068-4e11-466b-a1cc-d36230d28fdd",
  "title": "Hooley Hour",
  "date": "2026-09-04",
  "start_time": "17:00:00",
  "city": "Boston",
  "region": "Cambridge",
  "venue": { "id": "b7716a13-…", "name": "The Lilypad", "address": "1353 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139" },
  "category": "music",
  "category_tags": ["Theater", "Music"],
  "performers": [{ "name": "The Hooley Band", "role": "headliner" }],
  "price_label": "Free",
  "price_usd": 0,
  "price_amount": 0,
  "currency": "USD",
  "is_free": true,
  "recurring": true,
  "upcoming_dates_in_series": 4,
  "details_url": "https://www.lilypadinman.com/home/2026/hooley-hour-bs5y2-pl4db9",
  "image": "https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/…/1000016764.jpg",
  "website": "https://www.lilypadinman.com/",
  "url": "https://findlocal.community/event/8f9b9068-4e11-466b-a1cc-d36230d28fdd",
  "source": "scraper_local"
}

Empty fields are omitted. date is the venue's local calendar day; price_label is the venue's wording and price_amount our parsed number in the metro's currency (price_usd repeats it for US metros); is_free is set when we can tell either way.

What a venue looks like

list_venues and get_venue return the venue's type (one of 21 fixed types, e.g. "Music Venue", "Bookstore", "Arena & Stadium"), venue_size (Small <100, Medium 100–499, Large 500+, Unknown) and capacity when a source states one. When image_attribution is present, show it next to the image — the license requires it.

Prompts that work well

• "What's happening in Boston tonight that's free?"
• "Find comedy shows in Chicago this weekend under $25."
• "Which bookstores in Providence have author events this month?"
• "List music venues in Austin's East Side and what's coming up at each."
• "What categories of events does FindLocal have in Seattle, and how many of each?"
• "Any talks or film screenings in London this week under £15?"
• "When is my favourite band next playing in Chicago?"
• "Which large music venues in Denver have shows this weekend?"

Step-by-step walkthrough: How to connect FindLocal to Claude, Cursor and other AI assistants.