Furry Weekend Atlanta
{{Short description|Furry convention held in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{primary sources|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name = Furry Weekend Atlanta
| image = Furry Weekend Atlanta logo.svg
| caption =
| status = Active
| genre = Furry
| venue = Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Hilton Atlanta
| location = Atlanta, Georgia
| country = United States
| first = 2004
| last = 2025
| organizer = Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc.
| filing =
| attendance = 17,736 in 2025
| website = {{URL|https://www.furryweekend.com}}
}}
File:Furry Weekend Atlanta fursuiters.jpg
Furry Weekend Atlanta (FWA) is a furry convention held annually in Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite web|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-232535-previewing-furry-weekend-atlanta|title=Previewing Furry Weekend Atlanta|last1=Martinez|first1=Melysa|date=March 1, 2012|website=Creative Loafing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925014447/http://clatl.com/atlanta/previewing-furry-weekend-atlanta/Content?oid=4924038|archive-date=September 25, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=April 12, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2016/04/04/furry-weekend-atlanta-takes-over-downtown|title=Furry Weekend Atlanta takes over Downtown|last1=Friedman|first1=Maura|date=April 4, 2016|website=Creative Loafing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412151113/http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2016/04/04/furry-weekend-atlanta-takes-over-downtown|archive-date=April 12, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=April 12, 2016}} Started in 2004, the convention caters to members of the furry fandom, a subculture focused around fictional anthropomorphic animal characters. Attendance has steadily risen throughout its history, peaking at 17,736 attendees in 2025, making it currently the most attended furry convention in the world.https://bsky.app/profile/furryweekend.com/post/3lozhw55m322w
History
Furry Weekend Atlanta started as an outgrowth of a local furry meetups often held in Atlanta at the homes of various members of the furry fandom. As the gatherings became larger, the idea of formally holding a convention was raised. After several unsuccessful attempts, a plan was made to hold a convention in February 2004. The name Furry Weekend Atlanta was chosen to echo the name of the anime convention held in the city, Anime Weekend Atlanta. The name became a federally registered trademark on December 2, 2008.{{Cite web|url=http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77413227&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch|title=Furry Weekend Atlanta|website=U.S. Patent and Trademark Office|id=sn: 77413227, rn: 3539798|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404082200/http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=77413227&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch|url-status=live}} Originally held around Valentine's Day, the convention was rescheduled to be held mid-March in 2009.
Organization
Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc., is the 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which organizes the Furry Weekend Atlanta convention. Furry Weekend Atlanta Inc. is headed by an executive committee and in addition to operating the annual convention, promotes the acceptance of the furry fandom in the southeast United States. Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. retains only the funds necessary for the organization of the Furry Weekend Atlanta convention, and donates the rest to charities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.furryweekend.com/about/fwainc/|title=Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc.|website=Furry Weekend Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171504/https://www.furryweekend.com/about/fwainc/|url-status=live}}
Charity
In 2005 and 2006, Furry Weekend Atlanta supported the Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary, a state and federally licensed wildlife rehabilitation center located in Ellijay, Georgia. Furry Weekend Atlanta attendees donated almost $4,000 to the Sanctuary in 2006, and almost $3,000 in 2005. From 2007 to 2023, Furry Weekend Atlanta supported the Conservator's Center, a nonprofit organization working to preserve threatened species.{{cite web|url=http://www.furryweekend.com/our-charity/|title=Our Charity – Conservators' Center, Inc.|website=Furry Weekend Atlanta|publisher=Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc.|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312121241/http://www.furryweekend.com/our-charity/|archivedate=March 12, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=March 29, 2016}} As of 2024, FWA supports Lost-n-Found Youth.{{Cite web |title=Our Charity |url=https://www.furryweekend.com/about/our-charity/ |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Furry Weekend Atlanta |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-19 |title=Furry Weekend Atlanta |url=https://x.com/FurryWeekend/status/1759696013055455558 |access-date=2024-12-17}}
Furry Weekend Atlanta by year
{{Incomplete list|date=April 2016}}
| class="wikitable" border="1" | |||||||
| Year | Dates{{Cite web|url=https://www.furryweekend.com/about/history/|title=Furry Weekend Atlanta's History - Past Conventions|website=Furry Weekend Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214174838/http://www.furryweekend.com/about/history/|url-status=live}} | Location | Attendance | Charity Donation | Charity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | February 13–15 | Holiday Inn Atlanta | 270 | {{n/a}} | Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary | rowspan="5" {{N/A}} | * Fursuit maker and graphic artist Valentina Caicedo |
| 2005 | February 11–13 | Holiday Inn Atlanta | 500 | $3,000 | Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary | * Artist Jessica Maia Albee, aka "Jessie T. Wolf"
| |
| 2006 | February 17–19 | Holiday Inn Atlanta | 563 | $4,000 | Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary | * Cartoonist Bill Holbrook
| |
| 2007 | February 16–18 | Sheraton Gateway Hotel | 762 | {{n/a}} | Conservator's Center | * Artist "Strider Orion"
| |
| 2008 | February 15–17 | Sheraton Gateway Hotel | 1,046 | $5,001 | Conservator's Center | * Artist "Bonk"
| |
| 2009 | March 19–22 | Hilton Atlanta | 1,371 | $5,054 | Conservator's Center | On Safari | * Musician Matthew Ebel
|
| 2010 | March 25–28 | Hilton Atlanta | 1,564 | $4,600 | Conservator's Center | Carnaval! | * "Kami Cheetah" |
| 2011 | March 17–21 | Sheraton Atlanta Hotel | 1,621 | $8,000 | Conservator's Center | Furries in Wonderland | * Fursuit makers and fursuiters Lacy and Nick
|
| 2012 | March 15–19 | Sheraton Atlanta Hotel | 1,902 | $18,000 | Conservator's Center | Furries at the Moulin Rouge | * Author Kyell Gold
|
| 2013 | March 14–17 | Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel | 2,396 | $18,400 | Conservator's Center{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/furry-weekend-atlanta-turns-10/|title=Furry Weekend Atlanta turns 10|last=Dyer|first=Candice|date=March 13, 2013|website=Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105145359/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/furry-weekend-atlanta-turns-10/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/article/scenes-from-furry-weekend-atlanta-2013/|title=Scenes from Furry Weekend Atlanta 2013|last=Sun|first=Feifei|date=March 18, 2013|website=Atlanta|language=en-US|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105145352/https://www.atlantamagazine.com/article/scenes-from-furry-weekend-atlanta-2013/|url-status=live}} | Still in Love | * Artist and fursuiter Jimmy Chin
|
| 2014 | March 20–23 | Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel | 2,488 | $20,000 | Conservator's Center | Furry University | * Artist and fursuiter "Louvelex" |
| 2015 | April 9–12 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 3,252 | $28,000 | Conservator's Center | Shangri La: Furgotten Orient | * Artist Reimina Clover Keishana
|
| 2016 | March 31 – April 3 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 3,431 | $28,922 | Conservator's Center | Camp Furry Weekend | * Artist "Demicoeur" |
| 2017 | April 6–9 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 4,274 | $35,000 | Conservator's Center | Game On! | * Artist "Chibi-Marrow"
|
| 2018 | April 4–8 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 5,193 | $50,000 | Conservator's Center | Galactic Gunslingers | * Strype
|
| 2019 | May 9–13 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 5,645 | $50,000 | Conservator's Center | Pirates | * Caraid
|
| 2020 | Cancelled{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/atlanta-furry-convention-canceled-due-to-coronavirus/|title=Atlanta furry convention canceled due to coronavirus|first=Kenneth|last=Garger|date=March 17, 2020|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105150811/https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/atlanta-furry-convention-canceled-due-to-coronavirus/|url-status=live}} Originally scheduled for May 7–11 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | Conservator's Center | The Enchanted Forest | * Marc Knelsen / El Ranno |
| 2021 | Convention moved online May 7–8 | At Home | {{N/A}} | {{N/A}} | Conservator's Center | The Enchanted Forest | {{N/A}} |
| 2022 | May 5–9 | Atlanta Marriott Marquis | 7,212 | $50,000 | Conservator's Center | The Enchanted Forest | * Marc Knelsen / El Ranno |
| 2023
|May 11–14 |Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta |10,328 |{{unreleased}} |Conservators Center |The Lost City |
| |||||||
| 2024
|May 9–12 |Atlanta Marriott Marquis |$100,000 |Lost N Found Youth |Furry University: Homecoming | | |||||||
| 2025
|May 8–11 |Atlanta Marriott Marquis |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |{{N/A}} |FuturePunk |
|
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.furryweekend.com/ Furry Weekend Atlanta] – official website
- [http://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Furry_Weekend_Atlanta Furry Weekend Atlanta] at WikiFur
- [https://bsky.app/profile/furryweekend.com Furry Weekend Atlanta] on Bluesky
{{furry fandom}}
{{Atlanta events}}
Category:Recurring events established in 2004
Category:Conventions in Atlanta
Category:Tourist attractions in Atlanta