Event Start Date Workflow Action in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

The Event Start Date action sets a reference date for downstream workflow steps like Wait events. Pick a recurring day, an exact date and time, or a custom date field.

The Event Start Date action defines the reference point for time-based steps later in the workflow — most often Wait events. Pair it with reminders, follow-ups, and scheduled actions.

Three modes

  • Specific Day — recurring day of the week or month.
  • Specific Date/Time — exact calendar date and time (e.g., Sept 14, 2024, 10:30 AM).
  • Custom Field — pull a date from a custom field like Event Registration Date.

How to configure

  1. Action Name — describe what you're scheduling, e.g., Webinar start time.
  2. Type — Specific Day, Specific Date/Time, or Custom Field.
  3. Select Custom Field — for Custom Field type, pick the date field.
  4. Select Date — for Specific Date/Time, pick a calendar date.
  5. Current Day of Month/Week — for Specific Day, pick day-of-month or day-of-week.

Field reference

FieldDescriptionRequired
Action NameLabel shown in the workflowYes
TypeSpecific Day, Specific Date/Time, or Custom FieldYes
Select Custom FieldCustom date field (Custom Field type only)No
Select DateCalendar date (Specific Date/Time only)No
Current Day of Month/WeekDay reference (Specific Day only)Yes (in that mode)

Examples

Specific Date/Time

Set the workflow's reference to September 14, 2024. Wait events that follow can fire one week later for post-event follow-up.

Custom Field

Pull from Event Registration Date. Reminders and tasks fire relative to whatever each contact submitted.

Specific Day

Use Current Day of Month to fire recurring reminders on the first of each month.

Notes

  • Match the field's date format (e.g., MM-DD-YYYY HH) to avoid timing errors.
  • Combine with Wait events to hold contacts until the event date.
  • Useful for webinars, registrations, billing cycles, and recurring tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Event Start Date actually control?
It sets the reference date downstream Wait events and time-based actions use. Without it, Wait events fall back to the workflow's default timing.
Can the date come from a contact's custom field?
Yes. Pick Custom Field as the Type and select your date field, like Event Registration Date.
Can I set recurring schedules?
Yes. Use Specific Day with day-of-week or day-of-month for recurring reminders.
What date format should the field use?
Match the format you declare in the action. MM-DD-YYYY HH is a common safe choice. Mismatched formats cause timing errors.
Does this action send a notification on its own?
No. It only sets the reference date. Pair it with email, SMS, or task actions to actually notify someone.

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