Afurry convention (alsofurry con orfur con) is aformal gathering of members of thefurry fandom – people who are interested in the concept offictional non-human animal characters withhuman characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business and engage inentertainment andrecreation centered on this concept. Originating inCalifornia during the mid-1980s, as of 2016 there are over 50 furry conventions worldwide each year.^[1]

Furry conventions offer a range of volunteer-led programming, usually focusing on anthropomorphic art, crafts, music and literature. Many raise money forcharity.^[2] Attendees often dress up infursuits and wear artistic name badges for identification, though the majority do not.^[3] They may also spend money on the work of amateur and professional artists, both directly and atauction.^[4]

Furry conventions started in mid-1986 with parties at popularscience fiction conventions, such asWestercon andBayCon in theSan Francisco Bay Area. Over time, these parties split off into conventions of their own, starting withConFurence 0 in 1989.^[5] Attendance at furry conventions has been growing, with the number of conventions, total attendance of all conventions and maximum size of a single convention all doubling over the period 2000–2006.^{[6][promotion?]}

Furry conventions sometimes start out asfurmeets, where groups of local fans meet at a regular location, often on a scheduled basis. As the local community grows, these groups may put on events that attract dealer attention or significant fan activity and which become recognized as fully-fledged conventions. Other conventions spring up in the wake of discontinued events; for example, Califur was founded in 2004 following the final ConFurence in 2003, in order to keep a furry convention in theLos Angeles Basin.^{[7][promotion?]}

Convention programming includespresentations,panels,workshops andtutorials onanthropomorphicculture, fromliterature,fiction andart toscience,technology andspirituality. The convention will often provide space forstand-up comedy routines by entertainers likeUncle Kage andAlkali Bismuth;filk music, many kinds ofgaming, androleplaying sessions, as well as numerouspuppeteering andperforming arts events.^[8][9] A unifyingtheme is common for larger events.^[10]

Most conventions will feature some kind of an art show, in which artists' work is displayed, often for direct purchase orauction during the convention. There will often be a "Dealers' Den" where art andcomic book distributors and othermerchants can sell their wares for a fee, and anArtists' Alley where individual artists are given space for no fee or a token fee, usually on the condition that they sell only their own work.^[11] Artists may also trade art between each other usingsketchbooks.Erotic art is typically allowed if kept separate from other pieces, and shown only to adult attendees; a few conventions are rated strictlyPG-13^[4] but furry conventions are usually for all ages.^[12]

Individual transactions are relatively small (usually around US$10–$50 for sketches or badges, $10–$200 for auction pieces), but the total can approach US$100,000 at the largest events (excluding professional dealers).^[4]

Major conventions tend to have arave on at least one evening. Often there is a "fursuit-friendly" dance prior to the main event, with raised lighting and slower music to offset fursuiters' reduced vision and mobility. The use ofglowsticks and illuminatedpoi are popular once the lights are dimmed.^[13] A furry convention is also an opportunity to socialize, and private parties for subgroups of the fandom are common.^[14]

Conventions with significant numbers of fursuiters may offer an event known as thefurry games,furry races, orcritterlympics. These focus on feats ofdexterity suited to multiple players in teams, such as dragging a sled filled withplush toys or other fursuiters around a marked track, or racing back and forth while tethered to one another with ahula hoop.

Some conventions have established charity auctions, which (in the US) usually raise several thousand dollars for the convention's yearly charity, typically awildlife refuge,nature reserve,animal shelter,sanctuary orrescue group.^[15][16] Organizers may also donate from the convention's own funds. In total, furry conventions raised over US$50,000 for charity in 2006,^[2] withFurther Confusion andAnthrocon raising over US$60,000 throughout their history.^[15][16]

Attendees includeartists and dealers offering products and services for sale to fans, and those who wish to buy them. Others come for the programming, or to meet friends or other furry fans in general. Many attend for all of these reasons. Some later publish acon report detailing their experiences.

Attendees of major conventions receive a bag with the convention book (orconbook), a lavishly illustrated volume featuring themed artwork, fiction and articles submitted by members and the Guests of Honor, along with a description of the event's programming, staff, rules, guests and any charity being supported by the convention.^[17][18] Localrestaurant information and a combinationpocket schedule and map may also be included.Sponsors often receive additional items such asT-shirts,pins orribbons, as well as faster registration badge pick-up and on-site meals (some conventions provide acon suite with basic refreshments for all members).^[19] They may also be displayed prominently in convention publications.^[7]

Fans may wear a full or partial fursuit or another costume to express their identity and entertain others,^[14] though typically less than 15% of attendees bring a costume, and few of these wear them all the time.^[3] Others may wearaccessories such as ears or a tail, particularly outside the main convention area.^[14] Nearly all will wear one or more custom convention badges featuring a depiction of theirfursona, some with attached ribbons providing an indicator ofsocial status, such as a notice of affiliation, or sponsorship of the convention. Sales of such accessories form a part of thecommerce at furry conventions.^[10]

Furry conventions are usually run and staffed byvolunteers,^[20] though venues may require certain activities to be contracted out. Event funding typically relies on convention registrations.^[21] Many of the larger conventions areincorporated asnon-profit organizations, usually to achievetax-exempt status and safeguard the organizers' personalassets - in the US, some are501(c)(3) charities, while others are registered asrecreational clubs. The largest events may require up to a hundred volunteers, not including gofers.^[18] Volunteers are thanked for their participation during the closing ceremonies, which are usually well-attended, and often receive T-shirts or other benefits.

Most furry conventions take place over a weekend, with events scheduled between Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. Saturday is typically the busiest day, as most fans must return home on Sunday. One-day passes are sometimes sold at a reduced price.^[19]

Reasons for this include:

• Most fans would have to take a vacation from work or study to attend an event held during the workweek.
• Transportation costs are often lower for weekend travelers.
• Hotels have few business travelers during the weekend, making it much easier to reserve a block of rooms and secure space for programming at a reduced price.
• Many fans are students and have littlediscretionary income, so hotel and convention fees are important factors.^[22][23]

As a given convention expands in growth over the years, increased demand for programming often results in events scheduled late into the night. Convention activities may also be extended to Thursday and early Friday for early arrivals. Unofficial activities are frequently coordinated by groups of people on Sunday evening and Monday morning, usually open to anyone who wishes to join, and may include bowling, bar hopping, visits to arcades, shopping malls, theme parks, zoos, dinner or morning brunch.

This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: All the sources in this section are over a decade old. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2021)

One public misconception, popularized by theCSI episode "Fur and Loathing", is that furry conventions are places for people to dress up as animals and perform sexual acts with each other.^[24] In an article about furries,Vanity Fair described some hotel guests as "stunned", with some calling convention-goers "freaks", "blatant homosexuals", and various derogatory terms. SomeU.S. Army personnel present during the same convention described attendees as "a little unusual" and "people that have problems", while others considered the event "something nice to bring kids to."^[25]

In 2014,Midwest FurFest wasdisrupted by a chlorine gas attack which left 19 attendees hospitalized. The investigation by Rosemont Police revealed that the attack was most likely an intentional act of crime against the furry fandom.^[26] There was a notable suspect who had their home raided and was questioned by the FBI multiple times following the attack, but they were not charged.^[27] The perpetrator was never identified and the case remains cold as of 2024.^[28][27][29]

In May 2024, atrue crime podcast series hosted by journalist Nicky Woolf,Fur & Loathing,^{[Note 1]} was released about Woolf's investigations into the2014 Midwest FurFest attack and attempts to uncover the identity of the attacker. Woolf interviewed the witnesses of the attack and the suspects that were interviewed by the police.^[29]

• Brony convention

Wikimedia Commons has media related toFurry conventions.

Wikinews has News related to this article:

• Anthrocon 2007 draws thousands to Pittsburgh for furry weekend
• Furry fans flock to Further Confusion 2007

• Map of active furry conventions
• List of furry convention resources atWikiFur
• FurryCons.com
• Callahan, Jody (1 September 2003)."'Furry' Weekend In Memphis - Meet Brings Folks Dressed As Animals Together".The Commercial Appeal.
• Kremer, Lisa (28 September 2004)."Conventional fur for all".The News Tribune.
• Fried, Jennifer (20 August 2005)."Of All Things: All The Rage in the US".Financial Times Weekend Magazine. Archived fromthe original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved15 December 2007.
• Kurutz, Daveen Rae (17 June 2006)."It's a furry weekend".Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived fromthe original on 2 July 2006.
• Frank Hommel (8 September 2007)."Mit 'nem Tiger im Fahrstuhl".Freies Wort (in German). p. 2. Archived fromthe original on 28 February 2009.
• Heike Hüchtemann (8 September 2007)."Rollenspiele abseits des wirklichen Lebens".Freies Wort (in German). p. 13. Archived fromthe original on 7 July 2009.
• Staff writer (8 September 2007). "Eine Welt für sich".Thüringer Allgemeine (in German).
• Chachkevitch, Alexandra; Ziezulewicz, Geoff (7 December 2014)."'Furry' convention disrupted as 'intentional' gas incident sends 19 to hospitals".Chicago Tribune.

• 1986 introductions
• Furry conventions
• Furry fandom
• Contexts for auctions

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