Genealogy Unconference — Twin Cities — $149 early bird pricing through September 30th
Just 55 spots available! (As of 8/31, only 34 remain!)
 
Saturday, October 24, 2026 • 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
New Brighton, Minnesota
 
After you register, you will receive an email with a PDF to download. Don't see it? Check spam or go to my website and click on My Orders from the upper right side of any page. In it, there will be a link to a form you need to fill out prior to the event that will help me shape the structure of the event. It also contains exact event location information.
 
Get ready for a new kind of genealogy event!
Join Jen Shaffer of The Formidable Genealogist for a full day of genealogy conversation, collaboration, problem-solving, and connection at the Genealogy Unconference in New Brighton, Minnesota.
 
This is not a traditional genealogy conference filled with back-to-back lectures.
 
At an unconference, the people in the room help shape the day.
Instead of spending hours listening to presentations, you'll participate in large- and small-group discussions, share ideas and experiences, work through genealogy challenges, learn from fellow researchers, and explore the topics that matter most to the people attending.
 
Whether you're a newer genealogist or an experienced researcher, you have something to contribute and something to learn.
 
What Is a Genealogy Unconference?
An unconference is an interactive, participant-driven event. Once you register, you will receive a PDF that has a link to a form where I will gather info from you regarding what you want to learn. Note - this will not be a DNA-heavy event as I am not a genetic genealogist. This will focus on records research and tools.
 
The point isn't to follow a predetermined slate of lectures.
The point is to get genealogists talking to one another and building community.
 
You'll have opportunities to:
Participate in facilitated genealogy discussions
Work in small groups with people who share your interests
Ask questions and brainstorm difficult research problems
Share resources, methods, and discoveries
Learn from the experience of other genealogists
Make connections with people in the local genealogy community
Have actual conversations about genealogy instead of waiting until the five-minute break between lectures!
 
Schedule
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:30 AM–5:30 PM
(There will be a 1-hour lunch break. Bring your own lunch or visit a nearby restaurant.)
The day will include a mix of full-group activities, smaller breakout discussions, collaborative sessions, breaks, and time to connect with other attendees.
We'll build the day's specific discussion topics around the interests of the people who register.
 
Just bring your curiosity, your experience, your questions, and your enthusiasm for genealogy.
 
Included With Registration
All attendees will receive digital copies of The Formidable Genealogist's full PDF research guide collection.
 
 
Registration: $149 early bird pricing through September 30th. After that, the price is $199. 
Space is limited to 55 spots so that we can keep the event interactive and give everyone the opportunity to participate.
 
Refund Policy
Registration may be refunded within 7 days of purchase.
After the 7-day refund period, registration is nonrefundable unless the event is canceled.
If you're no longer able to attend and the refund period has passed, you may transfer your registration to someone else.
 
A Different Kind of Genealogy Event
Come prepared to talk genealogy.
Bring your questions. Bring your experiences. Bring that research problem you've been staring at for six months. Bring something you've discovered that you can't wait to tell another genealogist about.
Most importantly, come ready to meet other people who understand why finding an 1873 probate file can completely make your week.
 
Let's spend a day learning together and building our genealogy community.