This weekend, several hotels in downtown Atlanta will house a convention expected to bring over 7,000 attendees from across the globe. In fact, both the event’s fanfare and its participants can best be described as “wild.”
For 19 years, Furry Weekend Atlanta has brought members of the furry community, individuals who dress in animal-themed costumes and attire, together for a weekend of cosplay, gaming and fun.
This year’s theme, “The Lost City,” promises hundreds of hours of programming, dances, enormous video game and board game rooms, an artist alley, a fur suit dance competition and special surprises for conventiongoers.
“I think that what it is to be furry is very different for everyone. I don’t think anyone can really define it,” said Evan, CEO of the event.
“For some people, it is a connection to the art. It is an extremely creative community… people are able to create a version of themselves that is something different from how they see themselves. To others, its the spirituality and connection to animals. For many of us it started with Disney films…the idea that walking, talking animals were creative and cool… and maybe that didn’t fully leave us after childhood.”
Evan has been with Furry Weekend Atlanta since its inauguration in 2004, co-founding the event and watching its rise from an initial attendance of 270 to a record high of 7,212 last year.
The convention has grown to partner with multiple hotels in the downtown area, including the Atlanta Hilton and Marriott Marquis, in terms of lodging and event space.
“Furry weekend contributes to our hotel being sold out for the weekend,” said Paul Buff, director of sales and marketing at Atlanta Marriott Marquis. “The event planners for Furry Weekend have done an incredible job each year in growing this community and event.”
Evan believes that Furry Weekend’s overall message of unity and embracing individuality has contributed to the convention’s growing popularity among members of the furry community both in Atlanta and worldwide.
“I think that people are more willing to be their authentic selves and make these deep-rooted connections that we don’t always get in life and that shows in this community,” said Evan.
“We’ve had a number of marriages happen at [previous] conventions, and certainly a number of proposals, a number of lifetime friendships that people have made because of the convention. For a lot of people, this is coming back to family.”
While he acknowledges the growth of the convention in attendance and resources, he notes that it has still been difficult to engage with the City of Atlanta and some local businesses.
“It’s gotten easier over the years … we have a pretty significant impact on the city, and getting the city to take that seriously has taken time,” he said. “Now that we’re multiple hotels, the Convention Bureau is willing to assist, but even with Peachtree Center Mall … just getting them to keep the mall open on Sunday when we have 6,000 people on-premise has been impossible.”
Evan says that the facility, which many attendees patronize for dining and shopping, has failed in recent years to make their tenants aware of the Furry Weekend Atlanta’s arrival, as well as failing to prepare for the amount of traffic within the center that it brings.
“I find that really shocking,” he said. “We know that [Furry Weekend Atlanta] results in incredible business because I ask the individual business owners that we’ve built relationships with. I would love to see a little more embracing of us from the city … similar to how they treat Dragon Con.”
Evan notes that the “open arms” acknowledgments and support that his executive board and attendees have received from local restaurants and partnering hotels have made each annual trip to Atlanta worthwhile.
“This community is extremely appreciative of businesses that support them,” he said. “It makes a big difference, and people within this group are so excited to see that.”
“We love having our furry friends with us. They are a fun and exciting group that, upon arrival, feels like an annual reunion,” said Bull. “Being the largest hotel in Georgia at 1663 rooms, and this group’s social nature… means the entire hotel will be hopping… no pun intended.”
