diff --git a/includes/post-types.php b/includes/post-types.php
index fd954b0..79d0d14 100644
--- a/includes/post-types.php
+++ b/includes/post-types.php
@@ -6,47 +6,48 @@
  */
 
 if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
-	exit; // Exit if accessed directly.
+    exit; // Exit if accessed directly.
 }
 
 /**
  * Register a custom post type for events.
  */
 function events_register_post_type() {
-	$labels = array(
-		'name'               => _x( 'Events', 'post type general name', 'aa-events' ),
-		'singular_name'      => _x( 'Event', 'post type singular name', 'aa-events' ),
-		'menu_name'          => _x( 'Events', 'admin menu', 'aa-events' ),
-		'name_admin_bar'     => _x( 'Event', 'add new on admin bar', 'aa-events' ),
-		'add_new'            => _x( 'Add New', 'event', 'aa-events' ),
-		'add_new_item'       => __( 'Add New Event', 'aa-events' ),
-		'new_item'           => __( 'New Event', 'aa-events' ),
-		'edit_item'          => __( 'Edit Event', 'aa-events' ),
-		'view_item'          => __( 'View Event', 'aa-events' ),
-		'all_items'          => __( 'All Events', 'aa-events' ),
-		'search_items'       => __( 'Search Events', 'aa-events' ),
-		'parent_item_colon'  => __( 'Parent Events:', 'aa-events' ),
-		'not_found'          => __( 'No events found.', 'aa-events' ),
-		'not_found_in_trash' => __( 'No events found in Trash.', 'aa-events' ),
-	);
+    $labels = array(
+        'name'               => _x( 'Events', 'post type general name', 'aa-events' ),
+        'singular_name'      => _x( 'Event', 'post type singular name', 'aa-events' ),
+        'menu_name'          => _x( 'Events', 'admin menu', 'aa-events' ),
+        'name_admin_bar'     => _x( 'Event', 'add new on admin bar', 'aa-events' ),
+        'add_new'            => _x( 'Add New', 'event', 'aa-events' ),
+        'add_new_item'       => __( 'Add New Event', 'aa-events' ),
+        'new_item'           => __( 'New Event', 'aa-events' ),
+        'edit_item'          => __( 'Edit Event', 'aa-events' ),
+        'view_item'          => __( 'View Event', 'aa-events' ),
+        'all_items'          => __( 'All Events', 'aa-events' ),
+        'search_items'       => __( 'Search Events', 'aa-events' ),
+        'parent_item_colon'  => __( 'Parent Events:', 'aa-events' ),
+        'not_found'          => __( 'No events found.', 'aa-events' ),
+        'not_found_in_trash' => __( 'No events found in Trash.', 'aa-events' ),
+    );
 
-	$args = array(
-		'labels'             => $labels,
-		'public'             => true,
-		'publicly_queryable' => true,
-		'show_ui'            => true,
-		'show_in_menu'       => true,
-		'query_var'          => true,
-		'rewrite'            => array( 'slug' => 'events' ),
-		'capability_type'    => 'post',
-		'has_archive'        => true,
-		'hierarchical'       => false,
-		'menu_position'      => 5,
-		'supports'           => array( 'title', 'editor', 'author', 'thumbnail' ),
-		'menu_icon'          => 'dashicons-calendar-alt',
-	);
+    $args = array(
+        'labels'             => $labels,
+        'public'             => true,
+        'publicly_queryable' => true,
+        'show_ui'            => true,
+        'show_in_menu'       => true,
+        'show_in_rest'       => true,
+        'query_var'          => true,
+        'rewrite'            => array( 'slug' => 'events' ),
+        'capability_type'    => 'post',
+        'has_archive'        => true,
+        'hierarchical'       => false,
+        'menu_position'      => 5,
+        'supports'           => array( 'title', 'editor', 'author', 'thumbnail' ),
+        'menu_icon'          => 'dashicons-calendar-alt',
+    );
 
-	register_post_type( 'event', $args );
+    register_post_type( 'event', $args );
 }
 add_action( 'init', 'events_register_post_type' );
 
@@ -54,30 +55,30 @@ add_action( 'init', 'events_register_post_type' );
  * Register a custom taxonomy for event types.
  */
 function events_register_event_type_taxonomy() {
-	$labels = array(
-		'name'              => 'Event Types',
-		'singular_name'     => 'Event Type',
-		'search_items'      => 'Search Event Types',
-		'all_items'         => 'All Event Types',
-		'parent_item'       => 'Parent Event Type',
-		'parent_item_colon' => 'Parent Event Type:',
-		'edit_item'         => 'Edit Event Type',
-		'update_item'       => 'Update Event Type',
-		'add_new_item'      => 'Add New Event Type',
-		'new_item_name'     => 'New Event Type Name',
-		'menu_name'         => 'Event Types',
-	);
+    $labels = array(
+        'name'              => 'Event Types',
+        'singular_name'     => 'Event Type',
+        'search_items'      => 'Search Event Types',
+        'all_items'         => 'All Event Types',
+        'parent_item'       => 'Parent Event Type',
+        'parent_item_colon' => 'Parent Event Type:',
+        'edit_item'         => 'Edit Event Type',
+        'update_item'       => 'Update Event Type',
+        'add_new_item'      => 'Add New Event Type',
+        'new_item_name'     => 'New Event Type Name',
+        'menu_name'         => 'Event Types',
+    );
 
-	$args = array(
-		'hierarchical'      => true,
-		'labels'            => $labels,
-		'show_ui'           => true,
-		'show_admin_column' => true,
-		'query_var'         => true,
-		'rewrite'           => array( 'slug' => 'event-type' ),
-	);
+    $args = array(
+        'hierarchical'      => true,
+        'labels'            => $labels,
+        'show_ui'           => true,
+        'show_admin_column' => true,
+        'query_var'         => true,
+        'rewrite'           => array( 'slug' => 'event-type' ),
+    );
 
-	register_taxonomy( 'event_type', array( 'event' ), $args );
+    register_taxonomy( 'event_type', array( 'event' ), $args );
 }
 add_action( 'init', 'events_register_event_type_taxonomy' );
 
@@ -85,34 +86,34 @@ add_action( 'init', 'events_register_event_type_taxonomy' );
  * Register a custom taxonomy for event tags.
  */
 function events_register_event_tag_taxonomy() {
-	$labels = array(
-		'name'                       => _x( 'Event Tags', 'taxonomy general name', 'aa-events' ),
-		'singular_name'              => _x( 'Event Tag', 'taxonomy singular name', 'aa-events' ),
-		'search_items'               => __( 'Search Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
-		'all_items'                  => __( 'All Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
-		'parent_item'                => null,
-		'parent_item_colon'          => null,
-		'edit_item'                  => __( 'Edit Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
-		'update_item'                => __( 'Update Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
-		'add_new_item'               => __( 'Add New Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
-		'new_item_name'              => __( 'New Event Tag Name', 'aa-events' ),
-		'separate_items_with_commas' => __( 'Separate event tags with commas', 'aa-events' ),
-		'add_or_remove_items'        => __( 'Add or remove event tags', 'aa-events' ),
-		'choose_from_most_used'      => __( 'Choose from the most used event tags', 'aa-events' ),
-		'not_found'                  => __( 'No event tags found.', 'aa-events' ),
-		'menu_name'                  => __( 'Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
-	);
+    $labels = array(
+        'name'                       => _x( 'Event Tags', 'taxonomy general name', 'aa-events' ),
+        'singular_name'              => _x( 'Event Tag', 'taxonomy singular name', 'aa-events' ),
+        'search_items'               => __( 'Search Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
+        'all_items'                  => __( 'All Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
+        'parent_item'                => null,
+        'parent_item_colon'          => null,
+        'edit_item'                  => __( 'Edit Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
+        'update_item'                => __( 'Update Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
+        'add_new_item'               => __( 'Add New Event Tag', 'aa-events' ),
+        'new_item_name'              => __( 'New Event Tag Name', 'aa-events' ),
+        'separate_items_with_commas' => __( 'Separate event tags with commas', 'aa-events' ),
+        'add_or_remove_items'        => __( 'Add or remove event tags', 'aa-events' ),
+        'choose_from_most_used'      => __( 'Choose from the most used event tags', 'aa-events' ),
+        'not_found'                  => __( 'No event tags found.', 'aa-events' ),
+        'menu_name'                  => __( 'Event Tags', 'aa-events' ),
+    );
 
-	$args = array(
-		'hierarchical'      => false,
-		'labels'            => $labels,
-		'show_ui'           => true,
-		'show_admin_column' => true,
-		'query_var'         => true,
-		'rewrite'           => array( 'slug' => 'event-tag' ),
-	);
+    $args = array(
+        'hierarchical'      => false,
+        'labels'            => $labels,
+        'show_ui'           => true,
+        'show_admin_column' => true,
+        'query_var'         => true,
+        'rewrite'           => array( 'slug' => 'event-tag' ),
+    );
 
-	register_taxonomy( 'event_tag', array( 'event' ), $args );
+    register_taxonomy( 'event_tag', array( 'event' ), $args );
 }
 add_action( 'init', 'events_register_event_tag_taxonomy' );
 
@@ -123,14 +124,17 @@ add_action( 'init', 'events_register_event_tag_taxonomy' );
  * @return array The modified columns.
  */
 function events_add_admin_columns( $columns ) {
-	$new_columns = array();
-	foreach ( $columns as $key => $value ) {
-		$new_columns[ $key ] = $value;
-		if ( 'title' === $key ) {
-			$new_columns['event_datetime'] = __( 'Event Date & Time', 'aa-events' );
-		}
-	}
-	return $new_columns;
+    $new_columns = array();
+
+    foreach ( $columns as $key => $value ) {
+        $new_columns[ $key ] = $value;
+
+        if ( 'title' === $key ) {
+            $new_columns['event_datetime'] = __( 'Event Date & Time', 'aa-events' );
+        }
+    }
+
+    return $new_columns;
 }
 add_filter( 'manage_edit-event_columns', 'events_add_admin_columns' );
 
@@ -141,12 +145,13 @@ add_filter( 'manage_edit-event_columns', 'events_add_admin_columns' );
  * @param int    $post_id The ID of the post.
  */
 function events_display_admin_column_content( $column, $post_id ) {
-	if ( 'event_datetime' === $column ) {
-		$datetime = get_field( 'event_datetime', $post_id );
-		if ( $datetime ) {
-			echo esc_html( gmdate( 'F j, Y g:i a', strtotime( $datetime ) ) );
-		}
-	}
+    if ( 'event_datetime' === $column ) {
+        $datetime = get_field( 'event_datetime', $post_id );
+
+        if ( $datetime ) {
+            echo esc_html( gmdate( 'F j, Y g:i a', strtotime( $datetime ) ) );
+        }
+    }
 }
 add_action( 'manage_event_posts_custom_column', 'events_display_admin_column_content', 10, 2 );
 
@@ -157,28 +162,130 @@ add_action( 'manage_event_posts_custom_column', 'events_display_admin_column_con
  * @return array The modified sortable columns.
  */
 function events_make_admin_column_sortable( $columns ) {
-	$columns['event_datetime'] = 'event_datetime';
-	return $columns;
+    $columns['event_datetime'] = 'event_datetime';
+    return $columns;
 }
 add_filter( 'manage_edit-event_sortable_columns', 'events_make_admin_column_sortable' );
 
+/**
+ * Map of sortable meta keys and their types.
+ *
+ * Key is the meta_key; value is the meta type used for sorting.
+ * Supported types include 'NUMERIC', 'CHAR', 'DATE', 'DATETIME'.
+ * Extend this list to allow additional meta-key sorting.
+ *
+ * @return array<string,string>
+ */
+function events_get_sortable_meta_map() {
+    return array(
+        'event_datetime'   => 'DATETIME',
+        // Alias often used externally; map to same type.
+        'event_start_date' => 'DATETIME',
+        // Add more allowed meta keys here as needed, for example:
+        // 'event_capacity' => 'NUMERIC',
+        // 'venue'          => 'CHAR',
+    );
+}
+
 /**
  * Handle sorting by the custom column.
  *
  * @param WP_Query $query The WordPress query object.
  */
 function events_sort_by_custom_column( $query ) {
-	if ( ! is_admin() || ! $query->is_main_query() ) {
-		return;
-	}
+    if ( ! is_admin() || ! $query->is_main_query() ) {
+        return;
+    }
 
-	if ( 'event_datetime' === $query->get( 'orderby' ) ) {
-		$query->set( 'meta_key', 'event_datetime' );
-		$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value' );
-	}
+    $orderby = $query->get( 'orderby' );
+    $map     = events_get_sortable_meta_map();
+
+    if ( isset( $map[ $orderby ] ) ) {
+        $meta_type = strtoupper( $map[ $orderby ] );
+        $query->set( 'meta_key', $orderby );
+        if ( 'NUMERIC' === $meta_type ) {
+            $query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
+        } else {
+            $query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value' );
+            $query->set( 'meta_type', $meta_type );
+        }
+    }
 }
 add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'events_sort_by_custom_column' );
 
+/**
+ * Extend REST API to allow ordering events by meta value.
+ * Adds support for `orderby=meta_value|meta_value_num` and `meta_key`.
+ *
+ * @param array $params The existing REST API collection parameters.
+ * @return array The modified REST API collection parameters.
+ */
+function events_rest_extend_collection_params( $params ) {
+    if ( isset( $params['orderby']['enum'] ) && is_array( $params['orderby']['enum'] ) ) {
+        $params['orderby']['enum'][] = 'meta_value';
+        $params['orderby']['enum'][] = 'meta_value_num';
+    }
+
+    $params['meta_key'] = array(
+        'description'       => __( 'Meta key to order by.', 'aa-events' ),
+        'type'              => 'string',
+        'sanitize_callback' => 'sanitize_key',
+        'validate_callback' => function ( $value ) {
+            return is_string( $value ) && '' !== $value;
+        },
+    );
+
+    // Optional: allow specifying meta_type when using orderby=meta_value.
+    $params['meta_type'] = array(
+        'description' => __( 'Meta type used for ordering.', 'aa-events' ),
+        'type'        => 'string',
+        'enum'        => array( 'NUMERIC', 'BINARY', 'CHAR', 'DATE', 'DATETIME', 'DECIMAL', 'SIGNED', 'TIME', 'UNSIGNED' ),
+    );
+
+    return $params;
+}
+add_filter( 'rest_event_collection_params', 'events_rest_extend_collection_params' );
+
+/**
+ * Apply REST meta ordering to the WP_Query args for events.
+ *
+ * @param array           $args    The prepared query args.
+ * @param WP_REST_Request $request The REST request.
+ * @return array
+ */
+function events_rest_adjust_query_for_meta_ordering( $args, $request ) {
+    $orderby   = $request->get_param( 'orderby' );
+    $meta_key  = $request->get_param( 'meta_key' );
+    $meta_type = $request->get_param( 'meta_type' );
+
+    if ( in_array( $orderby, array( 'meta_value', 'meta_value_num' ), true ) && $meta_key ) {
+        // Allow simple aliasing of requested meta keys to real keys used in DB.
+        $aliases = array(
+            'event_start_date' => 'event_datetime',
+        );
+        if ( isset( $aliases[ $meta_key ] ) ) {
+            $meta_key = $aliases[ $meta_key ];
+        }
+
+        $args['meta_key'] = $meta_key;
+        $args['orderby']  = $orderby;
+
+        // If meta_type explicitly provided (and using meta_value), apply it.
+        if ( $meta_type && 'meta_value' === $orderby ) {
+            $args['meta_type'] = strtoupper( $meta_type );
+        } elseif ( function_exists( 'events_get_sortable_meta_map' ) ) {
+            // Otherwise, try to infer from our whitelist map for convenience.
+            $map = events_get_sortable_meta_map();
+            if ( isset( $map[ $meta_key ] ) && 'meta_value' === $orderby ) {
+                $args['meta_type'] = strtoupper( $map[ $meta_key ] );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return $args;
+}
+add_filter( 'rest_event_query', 'events_rest_adjust_query_for_meta_ordering', 10, 2 );
+
 /**
  * Set default sort order for event post type by event_datetime ascending.
  * Applies to both admin and frontend queries.
@@ -186,22 +293,38 @@ add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'events_sort_by_custom_column' );
  * @param WP_Query $query The WordPress query object.
  */
 function events_set_default_sort_order( $query ) {
-	// Only modify main queries for event post type
-	if ( ! $query->is_main_query() ) {
-		return;
-	}
+    // Only modify main queries for event post type
+    if ( ! $query->is_main_query() ) {
+        return;
+    }
 
-	// Admin list table
-	if ( is_admin() && $query->get( 'post_type' ) === 'event' ) {
-		if ( ! $query->get( 'orderby' ) ) {
-			$query->set( 'meta_key', 'event_datetime' );
-			$query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value' );
-			$query->set( 'order', 'ASC' );
-		}
-	}
+    // Admin list table
+    if ( is_admin() && $query->get( 'post_type' ) === 'event' ) {
+        if ( ! $query->get( 'orderby' ) ) {
+            $query->set( 'meta_key', 'event_datetime' );
+            $query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value' );
+            $query->set( 'order', 'ASC' );
+        }
+    }
 
     // Frontend: event archives and taxonomies
     if ( ! is_admin() && $query->get( 'post_type' ) === 'event' ) {
+        $map     = events_get_sortable_meta_map();
+        $orderby = $query->get( 'orderby' );
+
+        // If a known meta key is explicitly requested via orderby, honor it.
+        if ( isset( $map[ $orderby ] ) ) {
+            $meta_type = strtoupper( $map[ $orderby ] );
+            $query->set( 'meta_key', $orderby );
+            if ( 'NUMERIC' === $meta_type ) {
+                $query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value_num' );
+            } else {
+                $query->set( 'orderby', 'meta_value' );
+                $query->set( 'meta_type', $meta_type );
+            }
+            return; // Do not apply defaults if explicit meta sort requested.
+        }
+
         // Main event archive: newest first (descending by date/time)
         if ( $query->is_post_type_archive( 'event' ) ) {
             if ( ! $query->get( 'orderby' ) ) {