The Board of Directors has unanimously chosen Mission San Juan Bautista as the host location for the upcoming 33rd Annual California Missions Conference, scheduled for February 12-14, 2016. The three-day event, which begins on Friday and wraps on Sunday, will return to Mission San Juan Bautista for the first time since 1989 -- the sixth year of the annual gathering.
 
Other than Missions San Jose, San Juan Capistrano and Santa Clara, no other location has waited longer to re-host the California Missions Conference than Mission San Juan Bautista.
 
The Conference will begin Friday with an optional historic lunch at the Mission, followed by a full afternoon of workshops focusing on historic site interpretation for historic site employees, docents and administrators. Tours of the surrounding neighborhood of San Juan Bautista, including California State Parks and Native American sites, will also be featured.
 
That Friday evening, as is tradition, there will be a hosted reception for attendees, followed by a musical performance in the mission church and the annual business and general membership meeting.
 
Saturday the Conference will focus on the Paper Presentations, with lunch served at the mission. That Saturday evening the Annual Conference Awards Banquet will be held at the Mission with the prestigious California Missions Awards handed out.
 
Sunday the Conference wraps up with an optional historic site tour for those unable to make Friday's tour or for those who attended the Friday afternoon historic sites' workshop.

The California Mission Studies Paper and Publication Committee has chosen, "El Camino Real de las Californias" as the theme for the upcoming conference. 
 
According to long-time CMSA member and current CMF board member Dr. Jarrell Jackman: "Along El Camino Real that began with presidios, pueblos, ranchos, and missions, a new civilization was born harnessing the energies of many peoples and cultures and laying the foundations for the Californias we all live in today."
 

Hilton Garden Inn Gilroy Chosen as Conference Host Hotel for 2016

The Hilton Garden Inn in nearby Gilroy has agreed to be the host hotel for the 2016 California Missions Conference and is offering a special Conference rate of $129/night for Conference attendees. 
 
In order to book your room for the 2016 California Missions Conference, please call the hotel directly at 408-840-7005 and ask for reservations. Or you may book your room at Hilton.com or by calling 1-800-Hiltons. Please be sure to use the group code "CMF" when booking your room to receive the special Conference price.
 
Again, the Conference will be held over President's Weekend, so hotel rooms will fill up.
 
Hilton Garden Inn Gilroy
6070 Monterey Street
Gilroy, CA 95020