HOLD Pin event times to an explicit per-event time zone

app/decorators/event_decorator.rb

@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ def display_image
   end
 
   def date
-    start_date.strftime("%B %d, %Y")
+    start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).strftime("%B %d, %Y")
   end
 
   # Weekday-prefixed date range (e.g. "Thu-Fri, Jan 1-2, 2026") that collapses the
   # year — and the month/weekday where possible — so nothing repeats unnecessarily.
   def date_range
-    s = start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    s = start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone)
+    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(event_zone)
     return s.strftime("%a, %b %-d, %Y") if s.to_date == e.to_date
 
     if s.year == e.year && s.month == e.month
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ def date_range
   # Same collapsed range as `date_range` but without the weekday prefix
   # (e.g. "Sep 20-21, 2026") — for tighter contexts where the weekday is noise.
   def short_date_range
-    s = start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    s = start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone)
+    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(event_zone)
     return s.strftime("%b %-d, %Y") if s.to_date == e.to_date
 
     if s.year == e.year && s.month == e.month
@@ -212,12 +212,14 @@ def videoconference_calendar_pending_note_html(portal_url, payment_pending: fals
   # the "both days" notes in the registration details panel.
   def multi_day?
     return false unless start_date && end_date
-    start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone).to_date != end_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone).to_date
+    start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date != end_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date
   end
 
-  def times(display_day: false, display_date: false, inline: false, styled: false)
-    s = start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+  # Renders in the event's own zone by default; mailers pass `zone:` to show times
+  # in the recipient's zone instead.
+  def times(display_day: false, display_date: false, inline: false, styled: false, zone: event_zone)
+    s = start_date.in_time_zone(zone)
+    e = (end_date || start_date).in_time_zone(zone)
     tz_abbr = s.strftime("%Z")
     muted = styled ? "text-lg font-normal text-blue-400" : nil
 

app/helpers/application_helper.rb

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def default_reminder_message(days_until_event)
   # reminder page (admins can edit it). Mirrors the mailer's fallback subject; the
   # event date is event-level, resolved here in the app default time zone.
   def default_reminder_subject(event)
-    date_suffix = event.start_date.present? ? " – #{event.start_date.in_time_zone.strftime('%B %-d, %Y')}" : ""
+    date_suffix = event.start_date.present? ? " – #{event.start_date.in_time_zone(event.event_zone).strftime('%B %-d, %Y')}" : ""
     "AWBW Portal: Reminder: #{event.title}#{date_suffix}"
   end
 
@@ -119,10 +119,10 @@ def form_header_uses_tokens?(form)
   # Weekday-prefixed date for the registration details panel, without the year
   # (the year lives in the page hero) — e.g. "Wednesday, August 12" or
   # "Thursday-Friday, July 23-24". Nil when the event has no start date.
-  def event_dates_detail_label(event)
+  def event_dates_detail_label(event, zone: event&.event_zone)
     return unless event&.start_date
-    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(zone)
+    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(zone)
     return s.strftime("%A, %B %-d") if s.to_date == e.to_date
     if s.year == e.year && s.month == e.month
       "#{s.strftime("%A")}-#{e.strftime("%A")}, #{s.strftime("%B %-d")}-#{e.strftime("%-d")}"
@@ -135,8 +135,8 @@ def event_dates_detail_label(event)
   # event show page's date line, or nil when the event has no start date.
   def event_dates_label(event)
     return unless event&.start_date
-    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(event.event_zone)
+    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(event.event_zone)
     return s.strftime("%B %-d, %Y") if s.to_date == e.to_date
     if s.year == e.year && s.month == e.month
       "#{s.strftime("%B %-d")}-#{e.strftime("%-d")}, #{s.year}"
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ def event_dates_label(event)
 
   # Event start-end time as plain text (e.g. "9 am - 4:30 pm PST"), mirroring the
   # event show page's time formatting (minutes hidden when :00), or nil with no start.
-  def event_times_label(event)
+  def event_times_label(event, zone: event&.event_zone)
     return unless event&.start_date
-    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
-    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    s = event.start_date.in_time_zone(zone)
+    e = (event.end_date || event.start_date).in_time_zone(zone)
     format = ->(d) do
       t = d.strftime("%-l")
       t += ":#{d.strftime("%M")}" unless d.strftime("%M") == "00"
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def event_registration_close_label(event)
   def event_registration_close_date_label(event)
     close = event&.registration_close_date
     return unless close
-    close.in_time_zone(Time.zone).strftime("%B %-d")
+    close.in_time_zone(event.event_zone).strftime("%B %-d")
   end
 
   # Just the time portion of the registration close, prefixed with "at" and
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def event_registration_close_date_label(event)
   def event_registration_close_time_label(event)
     close = event&.registration_close_date
     return unless close
-    local = close.in_time_zone(Time.zone)
+    local = close.in_time_zone(event.event_zone)
     time = local.strftime("%-l")
     time += ":#{local.strftime("%M")}" unless local.strftime("%M") == "00"
     time += local.strftime("%P")
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def event_registration_close_time_label(event)
   # fall back to two days out at 9am.
   def event_registration_close_default(event)
     start = event&.start_date
-    base = start ? (start.in_time_zone(Time.zone) - 1.day).beginning_of_week(:monday) : 2.days.from_now
+    base = start ? (start.in_time_zone(event.event_zone) - 1.day).beginning_of_week(:monday) : 2.days.from_now
     base.change(hour: 9, min: 0)
   end
 

app/models/event.rb

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ class Event < ApplicationRecord
   # Validations
   validates_presence_of :title, :start_date, :end_date
   validates_inclusion_of :published, in: [ true, false ]
+  validate :time_zone_must_be_valid
   validates_numericality_of :cost_cents, greater_than_or_equal_to: 0, allow_nil: true
   validate :registration_form_required_when_publicly_registerable, on: :update
   validate :staff_members_are_unique, on: :update
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ def self.remote_search(query)
   end
 
   def remote_search_label
-    label = start_date ? "#{title} (#{start_date.to_date.to_fs(:long)})" : title
+    label = start_date ? "#{title} (#{start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date.to_fs(:long)})" : title
     { id: id, label: label }
   end
 
@@ -179,8 +180,8 @@ def registerable?
   def day_count
     return 1 if start_date.blank?
 
-    last_day = (end_date.presence || start_date).to_date
-    span = (last_day - start_date.to_date).to_i + 1
+    last_day = (end_date.presence || start_date).in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date
+    span = (last_day - start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date).to_i + 1
     span.clamp(1, 5)
   end
 
@@ -190,15 +191,15 @@ def time_title
 
   # Like time_title but date only — no time or parens — for filter dropdowns.
   def date_title
-    start_date ? "#{start_date.to_date.iso8601} — #{name}" : name
+    start_date ? "#{start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).to_date.iso8601} — #{name}" : name
   end
 
   def full_name
     "#{ name } (#{ start_text })"
   end
 
   def start_text
-    start_date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d @ %I:%M %p")
+    start_date.in_time_zone(event_zone).strftime("%Y-%m-%d @ %I:%M %p")
   end
 
   def name
@@ -212,33 +213,47 @@ def ce_hours_label
     registration_ticket_callouts.find_by(builtin_key: "ce_hours")&.title.presence || "CE hours"
   end
 
-  # Virtual attributes for date/time inputs (Firefox datetime-local compat)
+  # Default zone for events with no explicit time_zone — existing rows are left
+  # NULL (no backfill) and read as Pacific, and the form selector defaults here.
+  DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE = "Pacific Time (US & Canada)".freeze
+
+  # The event's own canonical zone — the times entered and displayed are pinned to
+  # it, so an event no longer floats to whoever's viewing. A blank/unrecognized
+  # column falls back to the default (Pacific).
+  def event_zone
+    ActiveSupport::TimeZone[time_zone.presence || DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE] ||
+      ActiveSupport::TimeZone[DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE]
+  end
+
+  # Virtual attributes for date/time inputs (Firefox datetime-local compat). Read
+  # and write in the event's own zone so the form round-trips wall-clock times
+  # regardless of the editing admin's session zone.
   attr_writer :start_date_date, :start_date_time,
               :end_date_date, :end_date_time,
               :registration_close_date_date, :registration_close_date_time
 
   def start_date_date
-    @start_date_date || start_date&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    @start_date_date || start_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
   end
 
   def start_date_time
-    @start_date_time || start_date&.strftime("%H:%M")
+    @start_date_time || start_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%H:%M")
   end
 
   def end_date_date
-    @end_date_date || end_date&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    @end_date_date || end_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
   end
 
   def end_date_time
-    @end_date_time || end_date&.strftime("%H:%M")
+    @end_date_time || end_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%H:%M")
   end
 
   def registration_close_date_date
-    @registration_close_date_date || registration_close_date&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    @registration_close_date_date || registration_close_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
   end
 
   def registration_close_date_time
-    @registration_close_date_time || registration_close_date&.strftime("%H:%M")
+    @registration_close_date_time || registration_close_date&.in_time_zone(event_zone)&.strftime("%H:%M")
   end
 
   # Virtual attribute for cost in dollars (converts to/from cost_cents)
@@ -315,9 +330,15 @@ def merge_date_time(field)
 
   def build_datetime(date_str, time_str)
     return nil if date_str.blank? && time_str.blank?
-    return Time.zone.parse(date_str) if date_str.present? && time_str.blank?
-    return Time.zone.parse("2000-01-01 #{time_str}") if date_str.blank? && time_str.present?
-    Time.zone.parse("#{date_str} #{time_str}")
+    return event_zone.parse(date_str) if date_str.present? && time_str.blank?
+    return event_zone.parse("2000-01-01 #{time_str}") if date_str.blank? && time_str.present?
+    event_zone.parse("#{date_str} #{time_str}")
+  end
+
+  def time_zone_must_be_valid
+    return if time_zone.blank? || ActiveSupport::TimeZone[time_zone]
+
+    errors.add(:time_zone, "is not a valid time zone")
   end
 
   def registration_form_required_when_publicly_registerable

app/models/event_registration.rb

@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ def self.search_by_params(params)
   end
 
   def name
-    "(#{ registrant&.full_name }) #{ event.start_date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d @ %I:%M %p") }: #{ event.title }"
+    "(#{ registrant&.full_name }) #{ event.start_date.in_time_zone(event.event_zone).strftime("%Y-%m-%d @ %I:%M %p") }: #{ event.title }"
   end
 
   # Email the communications box matches notifications against. Uniform accessor

app/policies/event_policy.rb

@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ def google_analytics?
                   :pre_date_text,
                   :facilitator_training,
                   :featured,
+                  :time_zone,
                   :start_date, :start_date_date, :start_date_time,
                   :end_date, :end_date_date, :end_date_time,
                   :registration_close_date, :registration_close_date_date, :registration_close_date_time,

app/views/event_mailer/_event_details_card.html.erb

@@ -13,18 +13,16 @@
     <%= event.title %>
   </h2>
 
-  <% Time.use_zone(time_zone) do %>
-    <% if event_dates_detail_label(event.object).present? %>
-      <p style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 4px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
-        <%= event_dates_detail_label(event.object) %>
-      </p>
-    <% end %>
+  <% if event_dates_detail_label(event.object, zone: time_zone).present? %>
+    <p style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 4px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
+      <%= event_dates_detail_label(event.object, zone: time_zone) %>
+    </p>
+  <% end %>
 
-    <% if event_times_label(event.object).present? %>
-      <p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 8px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
-        <%= event_times_label(event.object) %>
-      </p>
-    <% end %>
+  <% if event_times_label(event.object, zone: time_zone).present? %>
+    <p style="font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 8px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
+      <%= event_times_label(event.object, zone: time_zone) %>
+    </p>
   <% end %>
 
   <% if event.labelled_cost.present? %>

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_cancelled.html.erb

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     </h2>
 
     <p style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 8px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
-      <% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) { %><%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true) %><% } %>
+      <%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true, zone: @time_zone) %>
     </p>
 
     <% if @event.location.present? %>

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_cancelled.text.erb

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Your registration for the following event has been cancelled:
 
 <% if @event.respond_to?(:pre_title) && @event.pre_title.present? %><%= @event.pre_title %>
 <% end %><%= @event.title %>
-<% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) { %><%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true) %><% } %>
+<%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true, zone: @time_zone) %>
 
 <% if @event.location.present? %>
 Location: <%= @event.location.name %>

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_confirmation.html.erb

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     </h2>
 
     <p style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; color: #1e3a8c; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 0 0 8px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;">
-      <% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) { %><%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true) %><% } %>
+      <%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true, zone: @time_zone) %>
     </p>
 
     <% if @event.labelled_cost.present? %>

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_confirmation.text.erb

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ This message confirms your registration for the following event:
 
 <% if @event.respond_to?(:pre_title) && @event.pre_title.present? %><%= @event.pre_title %>
 <% end %><%= @event.title %>
-<% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) { %><%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true) %><% } %>
+<%= @event.times(display_day: true, display_date: true, zone: @time_zone) %>
 
 <% if @event.location.present? %>
 Location: <%= @event.location.name %>

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_reminder.text.erb

@@ -5,14 +5,12 @@ Event reminder Hello<%= @person.full_name %>,
 <% if @event.respond_to?(:pre_title) && @event.pre_title.present? %>
   <%= @event.pre_title %>
 <% end %><%= @event.title %>
-<% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) do %>
-  <% if event_dates_detail_label(@event.object).present? %>
-    <%= event_dates_detail_label(@event.object) %>
-  <% end %>
+<% if event_dates_detail_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone).present? %>
+  <%= event_dates_detail_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone) %>
+<% end %>
 
-  <% if event_times_label(@event.object).present? %>
-    <%= event_times_label(@event.object) %>
-  <% end %>
+<% if event_times_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone).present? %>
+  <%= event_times_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone) %>
 <% end %>
 <% if event_location_label(@event.object).present? %>
   Location:

app/views/event_mailer/event_registration_reminder_fyi.text.erb

@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ Reminder content sent to each registrant:
 <% if @custom_message.present? %><%= strip_tags(@custom_message).strip %>
 
 <% end %><%= @event.title %>
-<% Time.use_zone(@time_zone) do %><% if event_dates_detail_label(@event.object).present? %><%= event_dates_detail_label(@event.object) %>
-<% end %><% if event_times_label(@event.object).present? %><%= event_times_label(@event.object) %>
-<% end %><% end %><% if @event.labelled_cost.present? %>
+<% if event_dates_detail_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone).present? %><%= event_dates_detail_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone) %>
+<% end %><% if event_times_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone).present? %><%= event_times_label(@event.object, zone: @time_zone) %>
+<% end %><% if @event.labelled_cost.present? %>
 <%= @event.labelled_cost %>
 <% end %><% if event_location_label(@event.object).present? %>
 Location: <%= event_location_label(@event.object) %>

app/views/events/_form.html.erb

@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@
       <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-6">
         <%# LEFT: Date/time, cost + pre-date text, videoconference + location %>
         <div class="md:col-span-2 space-y-6">
+          <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-2 gap-y-1 rounded-lg border border-gray-200 bg-white px-3 py-2">
+            <label for="event_time_zone" class="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm text-gray-600">
+              <%= icon("fa-solid fa-earth-americas", class: "text-gray-400") %>
+              The times below are in
+            </label>
+            <%= f.time_zone_select :time_zone,
+                       ActiveSupport::TimeZone.us_zones,
+                       { default: Event::DEFAULT_TIME_ZONE },
+                       class: "min-w-0 flex-1 rounded border-gray-300 shadow-sm px-2 py-1.5 text-sm focus:ring-blue-500 focus:border-blue-500" %>
+          </div>
+
           <div class="grid grid-cols-[repeat(auto-fit,minmax(min(100%,13rem),1fr))] gap-3">
             <div class="bg-white border border-gray-200 rounded-lg p-3">
               <h3 class="font-medium mb-2">Start</h3>
@@ -225,7 +236,7 @@
           <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mb-3">Toggle which details appear on the event page.<br>Fields with no value will be ignored.</p>
 
           <div class="space-y-2">
-            <% tz = Time.zone %>
+            <% tz = @event.event_zone %>
             <% tz_abbr = @event.start_date.present? ? @event.start_date.in_time_zone(tz).strftime("%Z") : Time.current.strftime("%Z") %>
 
             <%= f.input :autoshow_pre_date_text, as: :boolean, label: ("Pre-date text" + (@event.pre_date_text.present? ? " <span class='text-gray-400 font-normal'>#{h @event.pre_date_text}</span>" : "")).html_safe %>

app/views/events/show.html.erb

@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@
   <% unless current_user && @event.actively_registered?(current_user.person) %>
     <% if @event.autoshow_registration_close && @event.registration_close_date %>
       <div class="text-base text-gray-700">
-        <% tz_abbr = @event.start_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone).strftime("%Z") %>
-        Registration closes <%= @event.registration_close_date.in_time_zone(Time.zone).strftime("%B %-d, %Y %l:%M %P") %> <%= tz_abbr %>
+        <% tz_abbr = @event.start_date.in_time_zone(@event.event_zone).strftime("%Z") %>
+        Registration closes <%= @event.registration_close_date.in_time_zone(@event.event_zone).strftime("%B %-d, %Y %l:%M %P") %> <%= tz_abbr %>
       </div>
     <% end %>
   <% end %>