diff --git a/src/django_project/tests/unit/web/test_model_crud.py b/src/django_project/tests/unit/web/test_model_crud.py
index 77f8040..118d6b9 100644
--- a/src/django_project/tests/unit/web/test_model_crud.py
+++ b/src/django_project/tests/unit/web/test_model_crud.py
@@ -93,6 +93,17 @@ def test_update_location_address(self):
         self.assertEqual(getattr(row, "location_address"), updated_value)
         self.assertNotEqual(getattr(row, "location_address"), original_value)
 
+    def test_create_without_location(self):
+        """verify event can be created without location fields"""
+        row = self.model.objects.create(
+            name="Locationless event",
+            start_datetime="2026-06-24T00:00:00Z",
+            location_name=None,
+            location_address=None,
+        )
+        self.assertIsNone(row.location_name)
+        self.assertIsNone(row.location_address)
+
     def test_update_location_name(self):
         """verify location_name (CharField) can be updated"""
         row = self.bake()
diff --git a/src/django_project/web/migrations/0005_alter_event_location_fields_nullable.py b/src/django_project/web/migrations/0005_alter_event_location_fields_nullable.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..351a74c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/django_project/web/migrations/0005_alter_event_location_fields_nullable.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("web", "0004_alter_event_end_datetime"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="event",
+            name="location_name",
+            field=models.CharField(
+                blank=True,
+                help_text="name of location where this event is being hosted",
+                max_length=64,
+                null=True,
+            ),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="event",
+            name="location_address",
+            field=models.CharField(
+                blank=True,
+                help_text="address of location where this event is being hosted",
+                max_length=256,
+                null=True,
+            ),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/django_project/web/models.py b/src/django_project/web/models.py
index 2082c80..43b09d2 100644
--- a/src/django_project/web/models.py
+++ b/src/django_project/web/models.py
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@ class Event(HandyHelperBaseModel):
     location_name = models.CharField(
         max_length=64,
         blank=True,
+        null=True,
         help_text="name of location where this event is being hosted",
     )
     location_address = models.CharField(
         max_length=256,
         blank=True,
+        null=True,
         help_text="address of location where this event is being hosted",
     )
     map_link = models.URLField(
diff --git a/src/django_project/web/tasks.py b/src/django_project/web/tasks.py
index 961ee4b..f48f187 100644
--- a/src/django_project/web/tasks.py
+++ b/src/django_project/web/tasks.py
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ def ingest_future_meetup_events(group_pk) -> str:
             event_info = get_event_information(event_link)
             event_info["group"] = group
             if event_info:
+                event_info.setdefault("location_name", "")
+                event_info.setdefault("location_address", "")
+                event_info.setdefault("map_link", "")
                 if not event_info.get("name", None):
                     logging.error(f"error parsing name for event hosted by {group.name}; data = {event_info}")
                     continue
diff --git a/src/django_project/web/templates/web/partials/li/events.htm b/src/django_project/web/templates/web/partials/li/events.htm
index 5b0b39f..e24b2ca 100644
--- a/src/django_project/web/templates/web/partials/li/events.htm
+++ b/src/django_project/web/templates/web/partials/li/events.htm
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
                         <span class="text-secondary" style="font-size: 75%;">{{ row.group.name }}</span>
                     </div>
                     <div class="col-12 col-sm-4 mb-1 text-secondary text-start text-sm-end">
-                        {{ row.location_name }}<br/>
-                        <span class="text-muted" style="font-size: 75%;">{{ row.location_address }}</span>
+                        {% if row.location_name or row.location_address %}
+                        {{ row.location_name }}{% if row.location_address %}<br/>
+                        <span class="text-muted" style="font-size: 75%;">{{ row.location_address }}</span>{% endif %}
+                        {% endif %}
                     </div>
                 </div>
             </li>