SQL Query to show nearest date?

Question

I\'m trying to figure out how to write a MySQL query that will return the closest 3 events in terms of date.

This is my table:

EVENT_ID    EVENT_NAME         


        

Answer 1

The query from accepted answer actually just sort previously selected values, not filter them before select. But this query works for me:

SELECT event_id, event_date
FROM events 
WHERE ABS(TIMESTAMPDIFF(DAY, event_date, $some_date)) < 10
ORDER BY event_date

Explanation: number 10 is a day range (both after and before). Without ABS() you can select only previous or future events, but I needed the closest.