This thread is the central calendar for events, conferences, webinars, archive openings, DNA kit sale announcements, and other opportunities relevant to African American family history research.

Post any event you find below. Please include:
• Event name
• Date(s)
• Location (in-person or virtual)
• Cost (free or paid)
• Link or registration info

— ANNUAL EVENTS WORTH KNOWING —

AFRA (Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society) Annual Conference
Held each fall, this is the premier national conference specifically for African American genealogy. Workshops, lectures, and networking with researchers working on the same records and brick walls. AAHGS.org

RootsTech (February/March — Salt Lake City + Virtual)
The world's largest genealogy conference. Massive vendor hall, sessions on DNA, digitized records, and methodology. Free to attend virtually. RootsTech.org

Association of Professional Genealogists Annual Conference
Professional-level training on research methods, evidence standards, and specific record types including those relevant to African American research. APGen.org

Freedmen's Bureau Online Archives Updates
The ongoing digitization of Freedmen's Bureau records is one of the most important genealogical projects in American history. Follow FamilySearch.org and the Smithsonian's NMAAHC for announcements about newly digitized collections.

— DNA KIT SALES —

AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and MyHeritage regularly discount kits — especially around Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the winter holidays. Sales typically bring kit prices from $99 down to $49–$59.

If anyone in your family has not yet tested, these sale periods are the best time to buy. Every new tester expands the match pool for everyone.

— POST YOUR EVENTS BELOW —

If you know of a webinar, local genealogy society meeting, archive opening, or other event that would be useful to this community, share it here. This is a living calendar built by all of us.