| Midwest FurFest | |
| Status: | Active |
| Genre: | Furry |
| Venue: | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center |
| Location: | Rosemont, Illinois |
| Country: | United States |
| First: | 2000 |
| Last: | 2023 |
| Organizer: | Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc. |
| Filing: | 501(c)3 |
| Attendance: | 15,547 in 2023 |
Midwest FurFest (MFF) is a furry convention that takes place in Rosemont, Illinois, usually on the second weekend after Thanksgiving.[1] First held in 2000, MFF is presented by Midwest Furry Fandom Inc, an Illinois Educational Not-For-Profit Corporation that exists primarily for the purpose of holding an annual convention to facilitate education in anthropomorphic literature and art. It also facilitates the donation of funds to non-profit institutions, mainly of which promote the well-being of humans and/or animals. The convention is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 15,547 attendees in 2023.
Midwest FurFest started as a furry focused part of the now defunct DucKon, a Chicago-based science fiction convention.[2] The furry portion of the original convention was started at DucKon 3 in 1994 and was headed up by Robert King. Interest grew each year, and it was estimated that by DucKon 8 (1999) between one-quarter and one-third of those attended present due to interest in the furry component of the convention.
Interest in furry specific activities grew to a size that it was no longer feasible to exist as a part of DucKon, and the convention was spun off in 2000, with the creation of Midwest Furry Fandom Inc., with the first MFF happening in November 2000. The convention has grown from 473 attendees in 2000 to 13,641 in 2022, making it the largest furry convention in the world by more than 3,900 attendees over the previous largest convention, Anthrocon.[3] It has helped raise over US$900,000 for various charities.[4] [5]
See main article: 2014 Midwest FurFest gas attack.
On December 7, 2014, a gas leak occurred at the Hyatt hotel in Rosemont, which was accommodating attendees. The hotel was evacuated, and 19 guests were hospitalized.[6] Later, an investigation found a broken glass bottle containing a concentration of chlorine powder inside the building.[7] [8] 18 of the 19 people hospitalized were released soon after and the convention continued. Rosemont Police interviewed hotel guests and employees, as well as employees at local stores which sell chlorine. While these interviews and subsequent investigation did not result in any known suspects or charges, police continue to treat this as a crime.[9] [10]
On September 15, 2019, Milo Yiannopoulos announced his intention to attend that year's convention. After significant backlash from other attendees on social media, Yiannopoulos was swiftly banned from the convention the following day.[11]
See main article: Bluetooth Low Energy denial of service attacks. At the 2023 festival an attendee tweeted that the Android device they used to control their insulin pump had been interfered with by a Bluetooth Low Energy spam attack.[12] They said that if they hadn't been able to fix their Android device they would have had to go to the hospital.[12]
| Year | Location | Attendance | Charity Donation | Charity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Arlington Heights, Illinois | 473 | $3,522 | Wolf Park, Valley of the Kings big cat sanctuary, and Chicago House |
| 2001 | 511 | $6,800 | Animals for Awareness | |
| 2002 | Schaumburg, Illinois | 685 | $6,088 | Animals for Awareness |
| 2003 | 800 | $6,500 | Animals for Awareness | |
| 2004 | 959 | $7,000 | Furry Friends Foundation | |
| 2005 | 1,066 | $6,800 | Wildlife in Need | |
| 2006 | 1,422 | $13,049 | Safe Haven Wildlife Refuge | |
| 2007 | 1,690 | $15,193 | Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation | |
| 2008 | Wheeling, Illinois | 1,992 | $15,000 | Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy |
| 2009 | 2,040 | $12,799 | Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education for Wildlife | |
| 2010 | Rosemont, Illinois | 2,285 | $11,300 | Castaway Pet Rescue |
| 2011 | 2,600 | $19,575 | Animal Education and Rescue | |
| 2012 | 3,216 | $40,500 | Felines & Canines | |
| 2013 | 3,904 | $28,000 | One Tail at a Time | |
| 2014 | 4,571 | $31,446 | Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary | |
| 2015 | 5,606 | $62,021 | Save-A-Vet | |
| 2016 | 7,075 | $78,482 | Felines & Canines | |
| 2017 | 8,771 | $85,000 | CRISP | |
| 2018 | 10,989[13] | $94,000[14] | SitStayRead | |
| 2019 | 11,019[15] | $224,704 | Felines & Canines | |
| 2020 | colspan="4" | |||
| 2021 | Rosemont, Illinois | 9,332[16] | $74,303 | Mission Companion Paw |
| 2022 | 13,641[17] | $106,683.66 | The Street Dog Coalition | |
| 2023 | 15,547[18] | $185,758.31[19] | Live Like Roo |