Anthrocon Explained

Anthrocon
Status:Active
Genre:Furry
Location:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Country:United States
First:1997
Last:2024
Organizer:Anthrocon, Inc.
Filing:501(c)(7)
Attendance:17,639 in 2024

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. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2006, the convention has drawn millions in financing to the local economy.[1] [2]

Anthrocon is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 17,639 in 2024.[3]

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.

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.[4]

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.[5] In 2009, attendance rose 11% to 3,776, and the Fursuit Parade count jumped to 640—a 41% increase.[4] [6] [7] Anthrocon 2009 brought approximately $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

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. 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]

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.[4]

Year DatesLocation Attendance Charity
Donation 		Charity Theme Guests of Honor
1997 July 4–6Albany, New York500 est $2,200 Therapy Dogs/K9 Friends An East Coast Furry Con
  • artist Daphne Lage
  • author Watts Martin
1998 July 3–5600 est $3,092 Whiskers Here Be Dragons
  • artist Jim Groat
  • author Jeffrey A. Carver
1999 July 2–4Valley Forge, Pennsylvania804 $3,600 Great Valley Nature Center The Furry Revolution
  • artist Vicky Wyman
  • author S. Andrew Swann
2000 June 30- July 21,128 $6,534 The National Greyhound Adoption Program Furries of Myth and Legend
  • artist Sara "Caribou" Palmer
  • author Paul Kidd
2001 July 27–29Philadelphia1,457 $7,237 Reins of Life Furries in Flight
2002 July 11–141,648 $13,280 Canine Partners for Life Invention
2003 July 17–201,949 $8,348 Support Our Shelters Creatures of the Night
  • artist Guy Gilchrist
  • artist Mark E. Rogers
2004 July 8–112,404 $7,200 Forgotten Felines & Fidos (FFF) Summer Games
2005 July 7–102,370 $6,470 Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue Heroes
2006 June 15–18Pittsburgh, PA2,489 $8,407 Western Pennsylvania National Wild Animal Making History
2007 July 5–82,849 $7,608 Animal Friends Looking to the Future
2008 June 26–293,390 $13,154 Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue It's a jungle out there!
2009 July 2–53,776 $8,993 Animal Rescue League Wildlife Rehabilitation OMG Aliens!
  • character developer and artist Joe Harris
  • Character artist and story designer Ben Balistreri
  • illustrator and television producer Bob Boyle
2010 June 24–274,238 $12,849 Fayette Friends of Animals Modern Stone-Age Furries
2011 June 23–264,400[18] $11,522[19] The Anthropomorphic Institute of Magic
2012 June 14–175,179 $20,656 Hello Bully A 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.
2013 July 4–75,577 $31,255 Equine Angels Rescue The Fast and the
2014 July 3–65,861 $32,372 Secret Societies
2015[20] July 9–126,389 $35,910 The Western PA Humane Society Viking Invasion!
2016 June 30 - July 37,310 $30,880[21] Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium Roaring Twenty
2017 June 29 - July 27,544[23] $37,598 Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary Take Me Out To The Ballgame
2018 July 5–88,407 $42,051 South Hills Pet Rescue Movie Monsters
2019July 4–79,358 $46,440 PEARL Parrot Rescue Surf Pacific[24]
2020Cancelled[25]
2021Cancelled[26]
2022June 30 - July 39,702 $41,553Wildlife Works Inc.Aesop's Fables
2023June 29 - July 213,644 $52,000+ Rabbit WranglersAnthropolis: Our Furry City
  • Pittsburgh (unspecified)
2024July 4–717,639 $100,000+ Gray Paws SanctuaryAnthroCoaster!

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ellis . Maliya . Anthrocon is back in Pittsburgh – and here come the furries . 16 October 2022 . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 30 June 2022 . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016012055/https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2022/06/28/anthrocon-2022-pittsburgh-furries-parade-convention-center/stories/202206240102 . live .
  2. Book: Dale. Joshua Paul. Goggin. Joyce. Leyda. Julia. McIntyre. Anthony P.. Negra. Diane. The Aesthetics and Affects of Cuteness. December 8, 2016. Routledge . 9781317331308.
  3. Anthrocon . 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"! . 2024-07-07 . 2024-07-07 . English . 1810079804781207565 . https://x.com/anthrocon/status/1810079804781207565.
  4. Book: Pattern . Fred . Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015 . 3 January 2017 . McFarland & Company . 9781476663814.
  5. Book: Guinness World Records 2008 . 7 August 2007 . Guinness . 978-1904994190 . 222 . 16 October 2022 . March 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308214230/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Guinness_World_Records_2008/keCMNVyeroYC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=anthrocon . live .
  6. Web site: Anthrocon 2009  - A Final Look Back . July 7, 2009 . John Cole . Anthrocon . . July 14, 2017 . June 20, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150620051827/http://anthrocon.livejournal.com/692864.html . live .
  7. Web site: A Bunch Of Anthrocon News Coverage In One Convenient Post! . Karl Jorgensen . July 6, 2000 . Anthrocon . . July 14, 2017 . September 24, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120924052055/http://anthrocon.livejournal.com/683660.html . live .
  8. News: Brandolph . Adam . Furry Convention $3 Million Cash Cow for City Businesses . . June 28, 2008 . April 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414201132/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_575023.html . April 14, 2009 .
  9. Web site: Are Furries Really So Bad? . Notopoulos . Katie . . June 20, 2012 . June 21, 2012 . June 22, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120622034053/http://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/are-furries-really-so-bad . live .
  10. Web site: How will you react when a loved one tells you they are a furry? . Purdom . Clayton . The A.V. Club . February 22, 2018 . en-US . 2019-01-28 . January 29, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190129010635/https://www.avclub.com/how-will-you-react-when-a-loved-one-tells-you-they-are-1823227647 . live .
  11. Web site: Anthrocon History . Anthrocon. March 29, 2006 . April 14, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070404162720/http://www.anthrocon.org/history . April 4, 2007 . live.
  12. Web site: Anthrocon Furries Aid Fernando's Cafe in Pittsburgh. Huffington Post. June 17, 2012. August 21, 2017. July 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701211825/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17/anthrocon-furries-fernandos-cafe_n_1603768.html. live.
  13. Web site: Events . Anthrocon . June 25, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160916165809/http://www.anthrocon.org/files/anthrocon/active/0/Anthrocon%202009%20schedule.pdf . September 16, 2016 . mdy-all .
  14. Web site: Our 2017 Schedule . https://web.archive.org/web/20170708160510/http://www.anthrocon.org/node/36149/our-2017-schedule . July 8, 2017 . Anthrocon . July 14, 2017 .
  15. Web site: News . Ranting Gryphon Studios . June 25, 2016 . 2012 Touring Information - June 14–17: Anthrocon, Pittsburgh, PA . July 6, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160706232839/http://www.ranting-gryphon.com/ . live .
  16. Web site: Anthrocon's first guest of honor named . . Anthrocon . . August 19, 2006 . July 14, 2017 . May 6, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180506033753/https://anthrocon.livejournal.com/218272.html . live .
  17. Web site: Anthrocon's 2007 Guests of Honor announced . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004138/http://www.anthrocon.org/node/317 . September 28, 2007 . . Anthrocon . November 12, 2006.
  18. 85100928461582336 . Anthrocon 2011 attendance: 4400 attendees. #AC2011 . June 26, 2011 . anthrocon.
  19. Web site: Anthrocon 2011 Charity Event Followup . Brian Harris . June 28, 2011 . June 28, 2011 . Anthrocon . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120326082550/http://anthrocon.livejournal.com/858814.html . March 26, 2012 .
  20. News: Garcia. Deanna. The Furries Have Landed – And Pittsburgh Is Giving Them A Bear Hug. NPR.org. August 21, 2017. August 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170821212308/http://www.npr.org/2015/07/12/422311437/the-furries-have-landed-and-pittsburgh-is-giving-them-a-bear-hug. live.
  21. Web site: Anthrocon 2016 Wrapup! | Anthrocon 2016: Roaring Twenty! . Anthrocon . July 16, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160709183837/http://www.anthrocon.org/node/35521/anthrocon-2016-wrapup . July 9, 2016 . mdy-all .
  22. News: Kennell . Lexi . Getting into character: Navigating Anthrocon 2016 . 16 October 2022 . The Pitt News . 5 July 2016 . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016053944/https://pittnews.com/article/109049/arts-and-entertainment/getting-character-navigating-anthrocon-2016/ . live .
  23. News: Bongardino . Anna . GALLERY: Anthrocon 2017 . 16 October 2022 . The Pitt News . 3 July 2017 . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016053947/https://pittnews.com/article/120644/visual/gallery-anthrocon-2017/ . live .
  24. News: Furries set to break Pittsburgh attendance record . 16 October 2022 . WTAE . 6 July 2019 . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016053948/https://www.wtae.com/article/furries-on-parade-in-pittsburgh-this-saturday/28294302 . live .
  25. Web site: Anthrocon, the furries convention in Pittsburgh, is officially canceled for 2020 . 2020-04-27 . WTAE . en . 2020-04-27 . May 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200503013643/https://www.wtae.com/article/anthrocon-canceled-for-2020-furries-convention-in-pittsburgh/32293691 . live .
  26. Web site: Pittsburgh economy out millions because of canceled events . 2021-03-22 . Sykes . Katelyn . WTAE . en . 2020-04-27 . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120015754/https://www.wtae.com/article/pittsburgh-economy-out-millions-because-of-canceled-events/35907481 . live .
  27. 1211768017769684993 . We're pleased to welcome Sue Deer; creator of "A Doemain of our Own" and winner of the Ursa Major award as our 2020 Guest of Honor! . anthrocon . 31 December 2019 . January 19, 2020.

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