Midwest FurFest
| Midwest FurFest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Website | |
| Status | Ongoing |
| First iteration | November 17-19, 2000 |
| Organizer(s) | Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc. |
| Subject | Convention |
| Resources | Photos, videos, reports: Midwest FurFest resources |
Midwest FurFest, also known commonly as FurFest or just MFF, is a furry convention held annually in Rosemont, Illinois, USA. The event has been running as a separate entity since 2000 and is presently the world's largest in-person furry event with a held attendance of 15,547 people as of December 2023.
Contents
History[edit]
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MFF began as the furry track for Duckon, which is a Chicago-based science fiction convention. It was started at Duckon 3 in 1994 and was headed up by Robert King. It grew larger yearly and it was estimated that by Duckon 8 (1999) between a quarter and a third of the attendees were there due to interest in the furry track.
The track ran into problems because it was running out of room to expand without costing other parts of Duckon programming space and time. It was decided that the best course of action was to move into a new convention. Thus, Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc.]was created, and MFF was born, to take place in November 2000, on the weekend before Thanksgiving. The parting was amicable, and Duckon lent a good bit of expertise and manpower to help make the first year of MFF a success.
Since then, the convention has grown from 473 attendees in 2000[1] to 10,989 in 2018[2], making it the largest furry convention in the world surpassing the previous title holder, AC, in registered attendance in 2017. It has helped raise over $285,276 for various charities.
MFF is a production of Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc., which holds Midwest Furfest and furfest as service marks.
The official Twitter account [1] advises attendees to post on Twitter using the hashtag "#FurFest", as many other conventions are abbreviated MFF, one of which takes place at around the same time. Previously, MFF suggested using the "#MWFF" hashtag, for the same reason.
Current event[edit]
MFF has called the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois home since 2010. Features of the convention include an Artist Alley, Dealers Den, art show, charity auction, dances (including a dead dog dance), the FurFest Lounge and Fursuit Green Room, fursuit games and a parade, opening and closing ceremonies, a photoshoot and a variety show.
Information[edit]
Statistics[edit]
| Year | Fursuiters* | Attendees | Charity |
| 2023 | 15,547 | $185,758.31 | |
| 2022 | 13,641 | $106,283.66 | |
| 2021 | 9,332 | $74,303 | |
| 2019 | 11,019 | $112,352, matched by an anonymous donor for a total of $224,704 | |
| 2018 | 10,989 | $92,794 | |
| 2017 | 8,771 | $85,000 | |
| 2016 | 7,075 | $78,482 | |
| 2015 | 1,378 | 5,606 | $62,021 |
| 2014 | 1,132 | 4,571 | $31,446 |
| 2013 | 972 | 3,904 | $28,000 |
| 2012 | 743 | 3,216 | $40,500 |
| 2011 | 574 | 2,600 | $19,575 |
| 2010 | 413 | 2,285 | $11,300 |
| 2009 | 357 | 2,040 | $12,799 |
| 2008 | 358 | 1,992 | $15,000 |
| 2007 | 286 | 1,690 | $15,193 |
| 2006 | 213 | 1,422 | $13,049 |
| 2005 | 1,066 | $6,800 | |
| 2004 | 959 | $7,000 | |
| 2003 | 800 | $6,500 | |
| 2002 | 685 | $6,088 | |
| 2001 | 511 | $6,800 | |
| 2000 | 473 | $3,522 | |
| * Fursuiter numbers are as counted in the parade or group photo | |||
|
Guests of Honor[edit]
Yearly, MFF selects talent from within the community, with a focus on people who have not yet been recognized.
Charities[edit]
Yearly, MFF selects a local animal-related charity to focus on. The total amount raised, as of MFF 2023, is $1,132,917.97.
In 2023, MFF's total amount raised surpassed $1,000,000.
Convention chairs[edit]
Yearly, the of Board of Directors for Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc. selects a convention chair to oversee the following year's event.
References[edit]
- ↑ 2005 Midwest FurFest Registration Report
- ↑ Tweet on the Midwest FurFest Twitter. Dated/Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- ↑ MFF 2021 Wrapup from Midwest FurFest
- ↑ MFF 2021 Wrapup from Midwest FurFest
- ↑ Tweet from Midwest FurFest Twitter. Dated/Retrieved December 5, 2022
- ↑ Tweet from Midwest FurFest Twitter. Dated/Retrieved December 5, 2022
- ↑ Tweet from Midwest FurFest Twitter. Dated/Retrieved December 3, 2023
- ↑ Tweet from Midwest FurFest Twitter. Dated/Retrieved December 3, 2023
External links[edit]
- Midwest Furry Fandom, Incorporated official site
- Midwest FurFest on Facebook
- Midwest FurFest on Twitter
- Midwest FurFest on Telegram
- Midwest FurFest on Instagram
- Midwest FurFest on Mastodon
- Midwest FurFest on Youtube
- Midwest FurFest on Flickr
- Photos, videos, reports: Midwest FurFest resources
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