The largest annual genealogy event in the English-speaking world, possibly in the entire world, will be held near the end of next month in London, England. Based on the hit television show, Who Do You Think You Are?, the three-day expo at the Olympia Exhibition Hall in Kensington typically attracts 12,000 to 14,000 attendees every year. Yes, that's fourteen THOUSAND.
The next Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! event will be held February 22 through 24, 2013. If you can be in London during that time, I bet you will enjoy this show. This year's event will feature more than 160 specialist exhibitors and celebrities from the television series to help you with your own family history search.
NOTE: The television show is known as Who Do You Think You Are?, often abbreviated as WDYTYA? However, the three-day expo at the Olympia Exhibition Hall is denoted by the word "LIVE!" appended on the end: Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE!
I hope to be at the show and will spend a lot of time wandering through the exhibits area, looking for new products and services to write about in this newsletter. However, if you are looking for me, you will find me occasionally in or near the the booth of my good friends at MyHeritage.com, sponsors of this newsletter.
This year's Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! will include:
The WDYTYA? Celebrity Theatre will be the place to see celebrities from the Who Do You Think You Are? television series take to the stage. They'll be talking about their experiences of filming the show and their feelings about the journey to uncover their ancestors. Special guests will include Masterchef's Gregg Wallace and TV and stage actress Samantha Womack.The 2013 edition of Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! is sponsored by:
The Society of Genealogists, sponsored by TheGenealogist.co.uk, will run an extensive programme of workshops conducted by leading genealogists over the course of the three day show. Free to attend, you'll be able to choose from a vast number of subjects, for instance: different research techniques, how to record your findings and using parish registers.
The Military Pavilion will be returning with a major expansion in preparation for the 100 year anniversary of The Great War in 2014. Military experts will provide you with the answers to any questions you have about your military ancestors.
Sponsored by FamilyTreeDNA, the DNA Workshop area will play host to international expert speakers and leaders in the field of DNA testing, so you can understand how this science can reveal your genealogy. This section of the show will provide pointers for further genealogical research, help determine ancestral homelands, reveal living relatives, validate existing findings, confirm or deny suspected connections between families and prove or disprove ancestry theories.
The Society of Genealogists' "Ask the Experts" area provides an opportunity to get some one-to-one guidance on your family history research. Whether you are stuck finding an elusive ancestor or just need help to start, this is a perfect chance to pose specific questions to an expert who can provide invaluable advice. Twenty minute appointments can be booked on the day by simply visiting the reception desk in the Ask the Experts area on the gallery level.
The National Archives will be holding talks in the all-new National Archives Theatre. These talks will be focused around the 2013 conference theme of Migration as well as providing information on how to use the The National Archives' extensive resources in your research. Additionally, speakers from The National Archives will be hosting five sessions in the Society of Genealogists' Workshop programme and knowledgeable members of staff will also be on hand to provide endless help and advice.
Many, many exhibitors. There are more genealogy exhibitors available at the Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! show than at any other genealogy event I have ever attended. This will be an international group of exhibitors. Past shows have featured exhibitors from the U.K., Ireland, the United States, Canada, Germany, and even from New Zealand. I expect a similar mix of exhibitors at this year's event. A large number of the show's visitors say they attend the show specifically for the exhibitors.
Eric Knowles will be the resident Heirloom Detective at this year's show. Eric will help date any family treasures important to your family and place them in their social context. Eric is a familiar face in the world of antiques and has fronted and participated in many a programme on the subject. He is most widely known as the ceramics expert on the Antiques Roadshow, he has also presented the BBC's Restoration Roadshow and appeared in Going for a Song, The Great Antiques Hunt and The Antique Inspectors to name but a few.
The Irish Section, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, will feature many Irish exhibitors, record holders, and Irish workshops. The workshop programme features a number of talks with an Irish focus and information on travel and accommodation is available from Tourism Ireland. Irish genealogy experts will offer dedicated personal guidance and assistance and with the resources available.
A Photography Gallery will be located upstairs, dedicated to the photos of the past. This year, the Gallery is sponsored by Love to Learn and you'll be able to take a close look at their step-by-step online guide to photography for beginners. Using this, you'll learn how to scan, edit, enhance and create digital albums of your precious photos and documents. You'll also discover how to archive and share these usable copies with friends and relatives.
Ancestry.co.ukI expect the exhibit hall will be crowded again with hundreds of companies and societies in their respective display booths.
The Society of Genealogists
FamilyTree DNA
The National Archives
Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
TheGenealogist.co.uk
DiscoverIreland.com
Your FamilyTree
Love to Learn
Family-Tree.co.uk
If you want to know more about your family's past, Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! is the place to start!
You can find more information about Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! at http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/.
