Furry convention

The Dealers Den and fursuit parade at Anthrocon 2006

A furry convention (also furry con or fur con) is a formal gathering of members of the furry fandom – people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human animal characters with human characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business and engage in entertainment and recreation centered on this concept. Originating in California during the mid-1980s, as of 2016 there are over 50 furry conventions worldwide each year.[1]

As of 2024, the largest furry convention is Anthrocon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It had a self-reported attendance of 17,639 in 2024.[2]

Furry conventions offer a range of volunteer-led programming, usually focusing on anthropomorphic art, crafts, music and literature. Some raise money for charity.[3] Attendees often dress up in fursuits and wear artistic name badges for identification, though the majority do not.[4] They may also spend money on the work of amateur and professional artists, both directly and at auction.[5]

  1. ^ Gold, Kyell (1 March 2016). Furry Fandom. Vol. 9. Uncanny Magazine. p. 91.
  2. ^ Anthrocon [@Anthrocon] (7 July 2024). "📈 An absolutely RECORD-BREAKING year! #Anthrocon2024 🤯 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 🐾 Attendance: 17,639 🐶💰 Charity Donation: Over $100,000 (by attendees)! 🚶😺 Fursuit Parade: 3371 🖼️ Covered sticker boards and 6 foot pizza boxes: ✅ See you next year on July 3-6, 2025 for "Deep Sea Adventures"!" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 July 2024 – via Twitter.
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  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference AC2006ArtReturns was invoked but never defined (see the help page).