Anthrocon

Last updated

Anthrocon
Anthrocon logo.png
Anthrocon's official logo
StatusActive
Genre Furry
Venue
Location(s) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Country United States
Inaugurated1997
Most recent2024
Attendance17,639 in 2024
Organized byAnthrocon, Inc.
Filing status 501(c)(7)
Website www.anthrocon.org

Anthrocon (abbreviated AC) is an annual furry convention that takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, each June or July. It caters to furries, which are fans of fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature. The convention was first held in 1997 in Albany, New York, and moved multiple times before settling at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. [1] Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2006, the convention has drawn millions in financing to the local economy. [2] [3] [ page needed ]

Contents

Anthrocon is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 17,639 in 2024. [4]

Background and history

Anthrocon was founded in 1997 as Albany Anthrocon (AAC) in New York state, with a membership of about 500. The convention was renamed to 'Anthrocon' and moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1999 and 2000; then to a larger hotel, the Adam's Mark, on the outskirts of Philadelphia in 2001. Attendance grew each year, Anthrocon becoming the largest furry convention in 2001 with an attendance of 1,457. In 2004 it had climbed to 2,404 attendees in its final year at the Adam's Mark. [5] :18

Due to the unforeseen sale of the Adam's Mark Hotel in November 2004, Anthrocon chose the Wyndham Franklin Plaza in Philadelphia as the site for its 2005 convention. Attendance that year dropped to 2,373. In June 2005, a contract with the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh was signed, and Anthrocon was scheduled to be held at the adjoining David L. Lawrence Convention Center between June 15 and 18, 2006. Despite concerns that the move to Pittsburgh would decrease attendance, it rose to 2,489, enough to ensure the future of the convention in Pittsburgh. [5] :22

In 2007 Anthrocon was featured in the Guinness World Records (2008 Edition) as the "largest furry fan club" in the world. In 2008, Anthrocon became the first furry convention to have an attendance exceeding 3,000 members, the official count reaching 3,390. [6] In 2009, attendance rose 11% to 3,776, and the Fursuit Parade count jumped to 640—a 41% increase. [5] :18 [7] [8] Anthrocon 2009 brought approximately $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy. [9]

Anthrocon 2010 had an attendance of 4,238, the first furry convention to exceed 4,000 members; and by 2012 saw 5,179 attendees, with a Fursuit Parade exceeding 1,000. The admission price was also set overall at $60 for a four-day pass, though pre-registered attendees paid $50. [10]

In 2017, Anthrocon lost the title of "World's most attended furry convention", as Midwest FurFest in Rosemont, Illinois, claimed the title with an attendance of over 8,700. [11]

The chairman of the convention since 1999, Samuel Conway, oversees the operations of Anthrocon with the assistance of convention staff and volunteers who donate their time and energy throughout the weekend to assist the multitude of small tasks which arise. Since 1997, Anthrocon has raised more than $200,000 for animal-related charities. [1]

Fernando's Café

Since the convention's presence in Pittsburgh, Fernando's Café, a fast food restaurant located near Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, is one of several restaurants that cater to furries during Anthrocon weekend. [12] However, in 2012, Fernando DeCarvalho, the owner of the restaurant, called Conway informing him that he had gone into debt as a result of the Great Recession. In response, Conway initiated a fundraising campaign which resulted in the restaurant receiving $20,000, a move HuffPost reports would "alleviate some of [DeCarvalho's] debt and allow him to keep his doors open long enough for one last Anthrocon." [12]

Typical programming and events

There are areas open most of the day to accommodate sales by Dealers and Artists as well as an area to congregate and socialize.

Anthrocon provides a number of specialized 'tracks' of programming with similar furry based themes and scheduled 'events'. [13] [14]

The programming tracks involve discussions and work groups focused on the application of furry in Art, Comedy and Improv, Computer Gaming, Costuming (Fursuits), Music, Puppetry, Role-Playing (both gaming and real-life), and Writing.

Scheduled events that take place have included a Charity Auction, Masquerade, Fursuit Parade, nightly dances, Art Show Auctions, and special presentations by Uncle Kage and "2 the Ranting Gryphon". [15] [ better source needed ]

Every year the convention has several Guests of Honor, who are prominent individuals who are compensated for their attendance and travel expenses. Past Guests of Honor at Anthrocon have included Rob Paulsen and Mark Evanier. [16] [17]

Anthrocon by year

This table includes the locations of each convention as well as attendance figures, charity donations, convention themes, and guests of honor by year. [5] :18

YearDatesLocationAttendance [5] :18Charity
Donation [5] :18
Charity [5] :18Theme [5] :18Guests of Honor [5] :18
1997July 4–6 Albany, New York 500 est$2,200Therapy Dogs/K9 FriendsAn East Coast Furry Con
  • artist Daphne Lage
  • author Watts Martin [5] :18
1998July 3–5600 est$3,092WhiskersHere Be Dragons
  • artist Jim Groat
  • author Jeffrey A. Carver
1999July 2–4 Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 804$3,600Great Valley Nature CenterThe Furry Revolution
  • artist Vicky Wyman
  • author S. Andrew Swann
2000June 30- July 21,128$6,534The National Greyhound Adoption ProgramFurries of Myth and Legend
  • artist Sara "Caribou" Palmer
  • author Paul Kidd
2001July 27–29 Philadelphia 1,457$7,237Reins of LifeFurries in Flight
2002July 11–141,648$13,280Canine Partners for LifeInvention
2003July 17–201,949$8,348Support Our SheltersCreatures of the Night
  • artist Guy Gilchrist
  • artist Mark E. Rogers
2004July 8–112,404$7,200Forgotten Felines & Fidos (FFF)Summer Games
2005July 7–102,370$6,470Greater Philadelphia Search & RescueHeroes
2006June 15–18 Pittsburgh, PA 2,489$8,407Western Pennsylvania National Wild AnimalMaking History
2007July 5–82,849$7,608Animal FriendsLooking to the Future
2008June 26–293,390$13,154Pittsburgh Parrot RescueIt's a jungle out there!
2009July 2–53,776$8,993Animal Rescue League Wildlife RehabilitationOMG Aliens!
2010June 24–274,238$12,849Fayette Friends of AnimalsModern Stone-Age Furries
2011June 23–264,400 [18] $11,522 [19] ToonSeum The Anthropomorphic Institute of Magic
2012June 14–175,179$20,656Hello BullyA Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Comic Artist, Animator, Director, TV Repairman Mike Kazaleh
  • Comic Artist and Video Game Art Director Dev Madan of Sly Cooper fame.
2013July 4–75,577$31,255Equine Angels RescueThe Fast and the Furrious
2014July 3–65,861$32,372 The National Aviary Secret Societies
2015 [20] July 9–126,389$35,910The Western PA Humane SocietyViking Invasion!
2016June 30 - July 37,310$30,880 [21] Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG AquariumRoaring Twenty
2017June 29 - July 27,544 [23] $37,598Hope Haven Farm SanctuaryTake Me Out To The Ballgame
2018July 5–88,407$42,051South Hills Pet RescueMovie Monsters
2019July 4–79,358$46,440PEARL Parrot RescueSurf Pacific [24]
2020Cancelled [25]
(originally July 2–5)
2021Cancelled [26]
(originally July 1–4)
2022June 30 - July 39,702$41,553Wildlife Works Inc. Aesop's Fables
2023June 29 - July 213,644$52,000+Rabbit WranglersAnthropolis: Our Furry City
2024July 4–717,639$100,000+Gray Paws SanctuaryAnthroCoaster!

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References

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  4. @Anthrocon (July 7, 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 July 7, 2024 via Twitter.
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