Anthrocon
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| Anthrocon | |
|---|---|
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. Anthrocon's official logo | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Furry |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
|
| LocationTemplate:Pluralize from text | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1997 |
Most recent | 2025 |
| Attendance | Increase 18,357 (2025) |
| Organized by | Anthrocon, Inc. |
| Filing status | 501(c)(7) |
| Website | www |
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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.[1][2][page needed]
Anthrocon is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 18,357 in 2025.
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.[3]Template:Rp
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.[3]Template:Rp
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.[4] In 2009, attendance rose 11% to 3,776, and the Fursuit Parade count jumped to 640—a 41% increase.[3]Template:Rp[‡ 2][‡ 3] Anthrocon 2009 brought approximately $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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]
The convention has been acknowledged as part of Pittsburgh's culture; since 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates player Andrew McCutchen has been known for making an X (Twitter) post simply containing the word "furries" prior to the convention. A superstition emerged surrounding McCutchen's performance at Pirates home games during Anthrocon, with a statistician noting in 2023 that he had a batting average of .419 and three home runs (one of which being a walk-off in extra innings in 2014) over 15 games.[8][9][10] The convention was also referenced in a side plot in a 2026 episode of the medical drama The Pitt, where a fursuiter attending Anthrocon was shown being treated for heat exhaustion.[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.[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] The cafe has since switched ownership, and names, but still schedules unique offerings.[13]
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'.[‡ 4][‡ 5]
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".[14][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.[‡ 6][‡ 7]
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.[3]Template:Rp
| Year | Dates | Location | Attendance[3]Template:Rp | Charity Donation[3]Template:Rp |
Charity[3]Template:Rp | Theme[3]Template:Rp | Guests of Honor[3]Template:Rp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | July 4–6 | Albany, New York | 500 est | $2,200 | Therapy Dogs/K9 Friends | An East Coast Furry Con |
|
| 1998 | July 3–5 | 600 est | $3,092 | Whiskers | Here Be Dragons |
| |
| 1999 | July 2–4 | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania | 804 | $3,600 | Great Valley Nature Center | The Furry Revolution |
|
| 2000 | June 30 – July 2 | 1,128 | $6,534 | The National Greyhound Adoption Program | Furries of Myth and Legend |
| |
| 2001 | July 27–29 | Philadelphia | 1,457 | $7,237 | Reins of Life | Furries in Flight |
|
| 2002 | July 11–14 | 1,648 | $13,280 | Canine Partners for Life | Invention |
| |
| 2003 | July 17–20 | 1,949 | $8,348 | Support Our Shelters | Creatures of the Night |
| |
| 2004 | July 8–11 | 2,404 | $7,200 | Forgotten Felines & Fidos (FFF) | Summer Games |
| |
| 2005 | July 7–10 | 2,370 | $6,470 | Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue | Heroes |
| |
| 2006 | June 15–18 | Pittsburgh | 2,489 | $8,407 | Western Pennsylvania National Wild Animal | Making History |
|
| 2007 | July 5–8 | 2,849 | $7,608 | Animal Friends | Looking to the Future |
| |
| 2008 | June 26–29 | 3,390 | $13,154 | Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue | It's a jungle out there! |
| |
| 2009 | July 2–5 | 3,776 | $8,993 | Animal Rescue League Wildlife Rehabilitation | OMG Aliens! |
| |
| 2010 | June 24–27 | 4,238 | $12,849 | Fayette Friends of Animals | Modern Stone-Age Furries |
| |
| 2011 | June 23–26 | 4,400[‡ 8] | $11,522[15] | ToonSeum | The Anthropomorphic Institute of Magic |
| |
| 2012 | June 14–17 | 5,179 | $20,656 | Hello Bully | A Midsummer Night's Dream |
| |
| 2013 | July 4–7 | 5,577 | $31,255 | Equine Angels Rescue | The Fast and the Furrious |
| |
| 2014 | July 3–6 | 5,861 | $32,372 | The National Aviary | Secret Societies |
| |
| 2015[16] | July 9–12 | 6,389 | $35,910 | The Western PA Humane Society | Viking Invasion! |
| |
| 2016 | June 30 – July 3 | 7,310 | $30,880[‡ 9] | Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium | Roaring Twenty |
| |
| 2017 | June 29 – July 2 | 7,544[18] | $37,598 | Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary | Take Me Out To The Ballgame |
| |
| 2018 | July 5–8 | 8,407 | $42,051 | South Hills Pet Rescue | Movie Monsters |
| |
| 2019 | July 4–7 | 9,358 | $46,440 | PEARL Parrot Rescue | Surf Pacific[19] |
| |
| 2020 | Cancelled[20] (originally July 2–5) |
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| 2021 | Cancelled[21] (originally July 1–4) |
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| 2022 | June 30 – July 3 | Pittsburgh | 9,702 | $41,553 | Wildlife Works Inc. | Aesop's Fables |
|
| 2023 | June 29 – July 2 | 13,644 | $52,000+ | Rabbit Wranglers | Anthropolis: Our Furry City |
| |
| 2024 | July 4–7 | 17,639 | $100,000+ | Gray Paws Sanctuary | AnthroCoaster! | ||
| 2025 | July 3–6 | 18,357 | $87,267+ | Nose to Tail Cat Rescue | Deep Sea Adventures! | none | |
| 2026 | July 2–5 | TBA | TBA | TBA | Cryptids, Creatures, and Curses! | TBA | |
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ellis, Maliya (June 30, 2022). "Anthrocon is back in Pittsburgh – and here come the furries". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Dale, Joshua Paul; Goggin, Joyce; Leyda, Julia; McIntyre, Anthony P.; Negra, Diane (December 8, 2016). The Aesthetics and Affects of Cuteness. Routledge. ISBN 9781317331308.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pattern, Fred (January 3, 2017). Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476663814.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Guinness World Records 2008. Guinness. August 7, 2007. p. 222. ISBN 978-1904994190. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brandolph, Adam (June 28, 2008). "Furry Convention $3 Million Cash Cow for City Businesses". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Notopoulos, Katie (June 20, 2012). "Are Furries Really So Bad?". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Purdom, Clayton (February 22, 2018). "How will you react when a loved one tells you they are a furry?". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."How McCutchen summons 'The power of Anthrocon'". MLB.com. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."'Furries.' A fan-favorite tweet could be a secret weapon for Andrew McCutchen - CBS Pittsburgh". CBS News Pittsburgh. July 1, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Andrew McCutchen's fabulous furry convention feats continue in Pirates' Friday night win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Pitt highlights the bittersweet bonds of family". AV Club. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Anthrocon Furries Aid Fernando's Cafe in Pittsburgh". Huffington Post. June 17, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ortego, Lauren (July 4, 2018). "Furry friends: Pittsburgh restaurants welcome Anthrocon furries with specials, signs and long straws". Pittsburgh CityPaper. Pittsburgh PA.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."News". Ranting Gryphon Studios. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
2012 Touring Information - June 14–17: Anthrocon, Pittsburgh, PA
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Brian Harris (June 28, 2011). "Anthrocon 2011 Charity Event Followup". Anthrocon. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2011 – via LiveJournal.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Garcia, Deanna. "The Furries Have Landed – And Pittsburgh Is Giving Them A Bear Hug". NPR.org. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kennell, Lexi (July 5, 2016). "Getting into character: Navigating Anthrocon 2016". The Pitt News. No. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bongardino, Anna (July 3, 2017). "GALLERY: Anthrocon 2017". The Pitt News. No. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Furries set to break Pittsburgh attendance record". WTAE. July 6, 2019. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Anthrocon, the furries convention in Pittsburgh, is officially canceled for 2020". WTAE. April 27, 2020. Archived from the original on May 3, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sykes, Katelyn (March 22, 2021). "Pittsburgh economy out millions because of canceled events". WTAE. Archived from the original on November 20, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
Template:Primary sources references section
External links
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