Annotated Line Plot with Event Markers — ggplot2

A line plot with annotations at key points marking important events or milestones. This visualization enhances time series data by highlighting significant occurrences such as product launches, policy changes, or market events directly on the chart. Vertical lines, markers, and text labels draw attention to specific moments in time, making it easy to correlate data trends with real-world events.

Annotated Line Plot with Event Markers rendered with ggplot2

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R source (ggplot2)

#' anyplot.ai
#' line-annotated-events: Annotated Line Plot with Event Markers
#' Library: ggplot2 3.5.1 | R 4.4.1
#' Quality: 89/100 | Created: 2026-09-05

library(ggplot2)
library(dplyr)
library(ragg)

set.seed(42)

# --- Theme tokens ------------------------------------------------------------
THEME       <- Sys.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG     <- if (THEME == "light") "#FAF8F1" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG <- if (THEME == "light") "#FFFDF6" else "#242420"
INK         <- if (THEME == "light") "#1A1A17" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT    <- if (THEME == "light") "#4A4A44" else "#B8B7B0"
IMPRINT_PALETTE <- c("#009E73", "#C475FD", "#4467A3", "#BD8233",
                     "#AE3030", "#2ABCCD", "#954477", "#99B314")
BRAND <- IMPRINT_PALETTE[1]

# --- Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------
trading_days <- seq(as.Date("2024-01-02"), as.Date("2024-12-20"), by = "day")
trading_days <- trading_days[!weekdays(trading_days) %in% c("Saturday", "Sunday")]

daily_returns <- rnorm(length(trading_days), mean = 0.0006, sd = 0.016)
close_price   <- 148 * cumprod(1 + daily_returns)

stock_df <- tibble::tibble(date = trading_days, value = close_price)

events_df <- tibble::tibble(
  event_date  = as.Date(c("2024-02-01", "2024-04-25", "2024-07-24",
                          "2024-09-10", "2024-10-30")),
  event_label = c("Q4'23 Earnings Beat", "Q1 Earnings Miss", "Q2 Earnings Beat",
                  "New Product Launch", "Q3 Earnings Beat"),
  label_step  = c(1, 2, 1, 2, 1)
)

price_range   <- range(stock_df$value)
span          <- diff(price_range)
label_row_gap <- span * 0.09
label_base_y  <- price_range[2] + span * 0.04
events_df <- events_df |>
  mutate(
    label_y = label_base_y + (label_step - 1) * label_row_gap,
    dot_y   = approx(stock_df$date, stock_df$value, event_date)$y,
    leader_y = label_y - span * 0.02
  )

# --- Plot -----------------------------------------------------------------
title_text <- "line-annotated-events · r · ggplot2 · anyplot.ai"

p <- ggplot() +
  geom_vline(
    data = events_df, aes(xintercept = as.numeric(event_date)),
    color = INK, linewidth = 0.4, linetype = "dashed", alpha = 0.5
  ) +
  geom_line(
    data = stock_df, aes(x = date, y = value),
    color = BRAND, linewidth = 1.0
  ) +
  geom_segment(
    data = events_df,
    aes(x = event_date, xend = event_date, y = dot_y, yend = leader_y),
    color = IMPRINT_PALETTE[5], linewidth = 0.5, alpha = 0.55
  ) +
  geom_point(
    data = events_df,
    aes(x = event_date, y = dot_y),
    color = IMPRINT_PALETTE[5], size = 2.8
  ) +
  geom_label(
    data = events_df,
    aes(x = event_date, y = label_y, label = event_label),
    color = INK_SOFT, fill = ELEVATED_BG, size = 3.0,
    hjust = 0.5, vjust = 0, lineheight = 0.9,
    label.size = 0.2, label.padding = unit(0.18, "lines"),
    label.r = unit(0.08, "lines")
  ) +
  scale_y_continuous(
    labels = scales::dollar_format(),
    expand = expansion(mult = c(0.06, 0.20))
  ) +
  scale_x_date(date_labels = "%b", date_breaks = "2 months") +
  labs(
    title = title_text,
    x = "Trading Date (2024)",
    y = "Closing Price"
  ) +
  theme_minimal(base_size = 8) +
  theme(
    plot.background   = element_rect(fill = PAGE_BG, color = PAGE_BG),
    panel.background  = element_rect(fill = PAGE_BG, color = NA),
    panel.grid.major.y = element_line(color = INK, linewidth = 0.3),
    panel.grid.minor  = element_blank(),
    panel.grid.major.x = element_blank(),
    axis.title        = element_text(color = INK, size = 10),
    axis.text         = element_text(color = INK_SOFT, size = 8),
    axis.line         = element_line(color = INK_SOFT),
    axis.ticks        = element_blank(),
    plot.title        = element_text(color = INK, size = 12),
    plot.margin       = margin(t = 10, r = 16, b = 8, l = 8)
  )

# --- Save -------------------------------------------------------------------
ggsave(
  filename = sprintf("plot-%s.png", THEME),
  plot     = p,
  device   = ragg::agg_png,
  width    = 8,
  height   = 4.5,
  units    = "in",
  dpi      = 400
)

Retrieve this implementation

Runnable source as JSON, for any HTTP client: https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/line-annotated-events/ggplot2/code. Any spec id and library id listed in llms-full.txt fit the same URL shape; every URL below is complete and callable.

{
  "spec_id": "line-annotated-events",
  "language": "r",
  "library": "ggplot2",
  "page": "https://anyplot.ai/line-annotated-events/r/ggplot2",
  "hub": "https://anyplot.ai/line-annotated-events",
  "code_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/line-annotated-events/ggplot2/code",
  "spec_json": "https://api.anyplot.ai/specs/line-annotated-events",
  "render_light_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/line-annotated-events/r/ggplot2/plot-light.png",
  "render_dark_png": "https://storage.googleapis.com/anyplot-images/plots/line-annotated-events/r/ggplot2/plot-dark.png",
  "quality_score": 89.0,
  "license": "MIT",
  "guide": "https://anyplot.ai/llms.txt"
}

Part of Annotated Line Plot with Event Markers on anyplot.ai.

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