Since the pandemic, most conferences have become virtual rather than in-person. Like it or not, it's more convenient for most people to attend from the comfort of their own homes or nearby cafes rather than drive or fly to a location, book a hotel room, and pay for meals during the event's duration. Still, If you can attend one in person, it's nice to have the experience of being with like-minded people, learning about a shared-interest topic, and then networking during and after.
This genealogy conference round-up includes events in Southern California or those that will be of interest to our members and community. They are presented in chronological order and take place from March through May.
Slide start, from left to right: CeCe Moore, Steve Little and Mark Thompson, Arizona Genealogy Day (select image for more info), Gena Philbert-Ortega, Daniel Horowitz, LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, Katherine Schober, Michelle Taylor
March 28—30: I4GG Conference, San Di,ego and live stream: The annual event will be held at the Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego Hotel. Billed as "the most important investigative genetic genealogy conference anywhere," I4GG was founded by genetic genealogists CeCe Moore and Dr. Tim Janzen. This year, an extra day will be devoted to AI—artificial intelligence—featuring Mark Thompson and Steve Little of The Family History AI Show podcast for a full-day seminar exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and genealogy on Friday, March 28. Consult the website for conference details, pricing, speakers, and schedule.
March 28: The 5th Annual Arizona Genealogy Day, free and virtual. Presented by the Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records, the one-day Zoom conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenters include Curt Witcher, Susan Weinberg, Mckell Keeny, Emma Stoltenberg, Yahm Levin, and Amy Urmin.
April 5: Orange County California Genealogical Society 11th Annual Genealogy Bash & Book Fair at the Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Avenue, Huntington Beach, 92648. Gena Philbert-Ortega will be the featured speaker at the hybrid event, presenting "Your Ancestor's Stuff: An Interactive Experience" in four sessions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
May 23—26: The National Genealogical Society Tales & Trails NGS 2025 Family History Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual conference includes tours, networking, society activities, classes, and presentations by top genealogists. Among the presenters: Keynote speaker Dr. Felicia Jamison, Leslie Anderson, Renate Yarborough Sanders, Judy G. Russell, Blaine Bettinger, Bernice Bennett, Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer, Margaret Rose Fortier, LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, Charles F. Holman III, Daniel Horowitz, Karen Stanbary and Angela McGhie, Jill Morelli, Stephanie O'Connell, Colleen Robledo Greene, Katherine Schober, Michelle Taylor. and Rebecca Whitman Koford. See the website for more information, pricing, and registration.