Google is expanding their concert listings for artists by adding other types of events to their knowledge graph – including aquariums and even venues that don’t normally host events or sell tickets, such as Times Square in New York City.  Previously, the knowledge graphs seemed to be restricted to events that one could purchase tickets to the individual events for.  But now, Google is promoting other types of event listings, including ones that are open to the public or come with a general admission ticket to places like museums, zoos and aquariums.

Even more interesting?  Google appears to be taking the events information straight from Facebook pages.

Here is an example of event listings at an aquarium.There is a side arrow on the right hand side that also allows users to scroll through more events.

Here is event listings for Times Square, which require no tickets.

However, it does include some interesting events, including what appears to be a small protest gathering of activists which shows only 100 people attending, according to their Facebook page.

When Google initially added the markup, they stated that the markup could be used for non-concert type of venues, such as libraries, however they have either been slow to add the markup or Google has been slow to start including them.  The Vancouver Aquarium events were pulled from their Facebook events, as was the Times Square protest event.  So it appears that Google is picking up the markup through listed Facebook pages.

Why use Facebook pages for various events?  While I am sure some people will read more into it, it is likely just a case of too few non-concert venues are using the markup on their own webpages, so Google is resorting to Facebook instead.

While this is good for users, I suspect many ticket sellers for non-concert events will start getting nervous as this goes more widespread, or we could begin to see spam issues where rival ticket sellers attempt to get their own listings showing up at the top.  However, if you really want to ensure you are the one listed under events, adding it to a Facebook page seems to be the way to do it.