diff --git a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
index 3e6f076..94ea5ac 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/dashboard.py
@@ -35,8 +35,12 @@ async def get_dashboard(
     today = client_date or date.today()
     upcoming_cutoff = today + timedelta(days=current_settings.upcoming_days)
 
-    # Subquery: calendar IDs belonging to this user (for event scoping)
-    user_calendar_ids = select(Calendar.id).where(Calendar.user_id == current_user.id)
+    # Fetch calendar IDs once as a plain list — avoids repeating the subquery
+    # expression in each of the 3+ queries below and makes intent clearer.
+    calendar_id_result = await db.execute(
+        select(Calendar.id).where(Calendar.user_id == current_user.id)
+    )
+    user_calendar_ids = [row[0] for row in calendar_id_result.all()]
 
     # Today's events (exclude parent templates — they are hidden, children are shown)
     today_start = datetime.combine(today, datetime.min.time())
@@ -95,11 +99,13 @@ async def get_dashboard(
     total_todos = todo_row.total
     total_incomplete_todos = todo_row.incomplete
 
-    # Starred events (upcoming, ordered by date, scoped to user's calendars)
+    # Starred events (within upcoming_days window, ordered by date, scoped to user's calendars)
+    upcoming_cutoff_dt = datetime.combine(upcoming_cutoff, datetime.max.time())
     starred_query = select(CalendarEvent).where(
         CalendarEvent.calendar_id.in_(user_calendar_ids),
         CalendarEvent.is_starred == True,
         CalendarEvent.start_datetime > today_start,
+        CalendarEvent.start_datetime <= upcoming_cutoff_dt,
         _not_parent_template,
     ).order_by(CalendarEvent.start_datetime.asc()).limit(5)
     starred_result = await db.execute(starred_query)
@@ -171,8 +177,11 @@ async def get_upcoming(
     overdue_floor = today - timedelta(days=30)
     overdue_floor_dt = datetime.combine(overdue_floor, datetime.min.time())
 
-    # Subquery: calendar IDs belonging to this user
-    user_calendar_ids = select(Calendar.id).where(Calendar.user_id == current_user.id)
+    # Fetch calendar IDs once as a plain list (same rationale as /dashboard handler)
+    calendar_id_result = await db.execute(
+        select(Calendar.id).where(Calendar.user_id == current_user.id)
+    )
+    user_calendar_ids = [row[0] for row in calendar_id_result.all()]
 
     # Build queries — include overdue todos (up to 30 days back) and snoozed reminders
     todos_query = select(Todo).where(
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/calendar/CalendarPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/calendar/CalendarPage.tsx
index fe71c6d..8de5365 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/calendar/CalendarPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/calendar/CalendarPage.tsx
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ import FullCalendar from '@fullcalendar/react';
 import dayGridPlugin from '@fullcalendar/daygrid';
 import timeGridPlugin from '@fullcalendar/timegrid';
 import interactionPlugin from '@fullcalendar/interaction';
-import type { EventClickArg, DateSelectArg, EventDropArg, DatesSetArg } from '@fullcalendar/core';
-import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, PanelLeft, Plus, Search } from 'lucide-react';
+import enAuLocale from '@fullcalendar/core/locales/en-au';
+import type { EventClickArg, DateSelectArg, EventDropArg, DatesSetArg, EventContentArg } from '@fullcalendar/core';
+import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, PanelLeft, Plus, Search, Repeat } from 'lucide-react';
 import api, { getErrorMessage } from '@/lib/api';
 import axios from 'axios';
 import type { CalendarEvent, EventTemplate, Location as LocationType, CalendarPermission } from '@/types';
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ const viewLabels: Record<CalendarView, string> = {
   timeGridDay: 'Day',
 };
 
+const UMBRA_EVENT_CLASSES = ['umbra-event'];
+
 export default function CalendarPage() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const location = useLocation();
@@ -363,14 +366,14 @@ export default function CalendarPage() {
     start: event.start_datetime,
     end: event.end_datetime || undefined,
     allDay: event.all_day,
-    backgroundColor: event.calendar_color || 'hsl(var(--accent-color))',
-    borderColor: event.calendar_color || 'hsl(var(--accent-color))',
+    color: 'transparent',
     editable: permissionMap.get(event.calendar_id) !== 'read_only',
     extendedProps: {
       is_virtual: event.is_virtual,
       is_recurring: event.is_recurring,
       parent_event_id: event.parent_event_id,
       calendar_id: event.calendar_id,
+      calendarColor: event.calendar_color || 'hsl(var(--accent-color))',
     },
   }));
 
@@ -500,6 +503,59 @@ export default function CalendarPage() {
   const navigateToday = () => calendarRef.current?.getApi().today();
   const changeView = (view: CalendarView) => calendarRef.current?.getApi().changeView(view);
 
+  // Set --event-color CSS var via eventDidMount (write-only, no reads)
+  const handleEventDidMount = useCallback((info: { el: HTMLElement; event: { extendedProps: Record<string, unknown> } }) => {
+    const color = info.event.extendedProps.calendarColor as string;
+    if (color) {
+      info.el.style.setProperty('--event-color', color);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  const renderEventContent = useCallback((arg: EventContentArg) => {
+    const isMonth = arg.view.type === 'dayGridMonth';
+    const isAllDay = arg.event.allDay;
+    const isRecurring = arg.event.extendedProps.is_recurring || arg.event.extendedProps.parent_event_id;
+
+    const repeatIcon = isRecurring ? (
+      <Repeat className="h-2.5 w-2.5 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+    ) : null;
+
+    if (isMonth) {
+      if (isAllDay) {
+        return (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1 truncate px-1">
+            <span className="text-[11px] font-medium truncate">{arg.event.title}</span>
+            {repeatIcon}
+          </div>
+        );
+      }
+      // Timed events in month: dot + title + time right-aligned
+      return (
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 truncate w-full">
+          <span
+            className="fc-daygrid-event-dot"
+            style={{ borderColor: 'var(--event-color)' }}
+          />
+          <span className="text-[11px] font-medium truncate">{arg.event.title}</span>
+          {repeatIcon}
+          <span className="umbra-event-time text-[10px] opacity-50 shrink-0 ml-auto tabular-nums">{arg.timeText}</span>
+        </div>
+      );
+    }
+
+    // Week/day view — title on top, time underneath
+    return (
+      <div className="flex flex-col overflow-hidden h-full">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
+          <span className="text-[12px] font-medium truncate">{arg.event.title}</span>
+          {repeatIcon}
+        </div>
+        <span className="text-[10px] opacity-50 leading-tight tabular-nums">{arg.timeText}</span>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }, []);
+
+
   return (
     <div className="flex h-full overflow-hidden animate-fade-in">
       <div className="hidden lg:flex lg:flex-row shrink-0">
@@ -644,6 +700,18 @@ export default function CalendarPage() {
                 select={handleDateSelect}
                 datesSet={handleDatesSet}
                 height="100%"
+                locale={enAuLocale}
+                views={{
+                  dayGridMonth: { dayHeaderFormat: { weekday: 'short' } },
+                  timeGridWeek: { dayHeaderFormat: { weekday: 'short', day: 'numeric', month: 'numeric' } },
+                  timeGridDay: { dayHeaderFormat: { weekday: 'long', day: 'numeric', month: 'long' } },
+                }}
+                eventTimeFormat={{ hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit', meridiem: 'short' }}
+                slotLabelFormat={{ hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit', meridiem: 'short' }}
+                slotEventOverlap={false}
+                eventDidMount={handleEventDidMount}
+                eventClassNames={UMBRA_EVENT_CLASSES}
+                eventContent={renderEventContent}
               />
             </div>
           </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 677e3ad..d76073c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@
   --fc-button-hover-border-color: hsl(0 0% 20%);
   --fc-button-active-bg-color: hsl(var(--accent-color));
   --fc-button-active-border-color: hsl(var(--accent-color));
-  --fc-event-bg-color: hsl(var(--accent-color));
-  --fc-event-border-color: hsl(var(--accent-color));
-  --fc-event-text-color: hsl(0 0% 98%);
+  --fc-event-bg-color: transparent;
+  --fc-event-border-color: transparent;
+  --fc-event-text-color: inherit;
   --fc-page-bg-color: transparent;
   --fc-neutral-bg-color: hsl(0 0% 8% / 0.65);
   --fc-neutral-text-color: hsl(0 0% 98%);
@@ -144,10 +144,44 @@
   border-bottom-color: hsl(var(--accent-color));
 }
 
+/* Now indicator pulse dot */
+.fc .fc-timegrid-now-indicator-line::before {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  left: -3px;
+  top: -3px;
+  width: 6px;
+  height: 6px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: hsl(var(--accent-color));
+  animation: pulse-dot 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .fc .fc-timegrid-now-indicator-line::before {
+    animation: none;
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+}
+
+/* Weekend columns: neutralise FullCalendar's built-in weekend td background.
+   The frame inherits --fc-neutral-bg-color identically to weekdays.
+   Weekend tint removed after 10+ attempts — cross-browser compositing divergence
+   (Firefox produces teal artifact from semi-transparent HSL on near-black bg). */
+.fc .fc-day-sat,
+.fc .fc-day-sun {
+  background-color: transparent !important;
+}
+
+
 .fc .fc-col-header-cell {
   background-color: hsl(0 0% 8% / 0.65);
   border-color: var(--fc-border-color);
 }
+.fc .fc-col-header-cell.fc-day-sat,
+.fc .fc-col-header-cell.fc-day-sun {
+  background-color: hsl(0 0% 8% / 0.65) !important;
+}
 
 .fc-theme-standard td,
 .fc-theme-standard th {
@@ -171,21 +205,62 @@
   color: hsl(0 0% 63.9%);
 }
 
-/* Event pills — compact rounded style */
-.fc .fc-daygrid-event {
-  border-radius: 4px;
+/* ── Translucent event styling ── */
+.fc .umbra-event {
+  border: none !important;
+  border-radius: 5px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: background-color 0.15s ease, box-shadow 0.15s ease, opacity 0.15s ease;
+}
+
+.fc .umbra-event .fc-event-main {
+  color: var(--event-color) !important;
+}
+
+/* ── Month view: all-day events get translucent fill ── */
+.fc .fc-daygrid-block-event.umbra-event {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--event-color) 12%, transparent) !important;
+}
+
+.fc .fc-daygrid-block-event.umbra-event:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--event-color) 22%, transparent) !important;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+
+/* ── Month view: timed events — dot only, card on hover ── */
+.fc .fc-daygrid-dot-event.umbra-event {
+  background: transparent !important;
+}
+
+.fc .fc-daygrid-dot-event.umbra-event .fc-daygrid-event-dot {
+  border-color: var(--event-color) !important;
+  margin: 0 2px 0 0;
+}
+
+.fc .fc-daygrid-dot-event.umbra-event:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--event-color) 12%, transparent) !important;
+}
+
+.fc .fc-daygrid-event.umbra-event {
   font-size: 0.75rem;
-  padding: 0px 4px;
+  padding: 1px 2px;
   line-height: 1.4;
 }
 
-.fc .fc-timegrid-event {
-  border-radius: 4px;
-  font-size: 0.75rem;
+/* ── Time grid (week/day view) — translucent fill ── */
+.fc .fc-timegrid-event.umbra-event {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--event-color) 12%, transparent) !important;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
 }
 
-.fc .fc-timegrid-event .fc-event-main {
-  padding: 2px 4px;
+.fc .fc-timegrid-event.umbra-event:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--event-color) 22%, transparent) !important;
+  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
+}
+
+.fc .fc-timegrid-event.umbra-event .fc-event-main {
+  padding: 3px 6px;
 }
 
 /* Day number styling for today */
@@ -262,6 +337,10 @@
     padding: 2px 6px;
     margin-bottom: 2px;
   }
+  /* Ensure translucent events in popover inherit styling */
+  .fc .fc-more-popover .umbra-event {
+    margin-bottom: 2px;
+  }
 }
 
 /* ── Chromium native date picker icon fix (safety net) ── */
@@ -358,6 +437,11 @@ form[data-submitted] input:invalid + button {
     display: none;
   }
 
+  /* Hide time spans in custom eventContent on mobile month view */
+  .fc .fc-daygrid-event .umbra-event-time {
+    display: none;
+  }
+
   .fc .fc-timegrid-event {
     font-size: 0.6rem;
   }