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Furry Weekend Atlanta

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Furry Weekend Atlanta
StatusActive
GenreFurry
VenueAtlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Location(s)Atlanta, Georgia
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2004
Most recent2024
Attendance15,021 in 2024
Organized byFurry Weekend Atlanta, Inc.
Websitewww.furryweekend.com
Fursuiters at Furry Weekend Atlanta 2015

Furry Weekend Atlanta (FWA) is a furry convention held annually in Atlanta, Georgia.[1][2] 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 roughly 15,000 attendees in 2024.

History

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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.[3] Originally held around Valentine's Day, the convention was rescheduled to be held mid-March in 2009.

Organization

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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.[4]

Charity

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From 2005 to 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 present, Furry Weekend Atlanta has supported the Conservator's Center, a nonprofit organization working to preserve threatened species.[5]

Furry Weekend Atlanta attendance by year

Furry Weekend Atlanta by year

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Year Dates[6] Location[6] Attendance[6] Charity
Donation		 Charity Theme[6] Guests of Honor[6]
2004 February 13–15 Holiday Inn Atlanta 270 — Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary —
  • 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"
  • Artist "Fel"
2006 February 17–19 Holiday Inn Atlanta 563 $4,000 Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary
2007 February 16–18 Sheraton Gateway Hotel 762 — Conservator's Center
  • Artist "Strider Orion"
  • Artist Daria McGrain
2008 February 15–17 Sheraton Gateway Hotel 1,046 $5,001 Conservator's Center
  • Artist "Bonk"
  • Fursuiter "TILT Longtail"
2009 March 19–22 Hilton Atlanta 1,371 $5,054 Conservator's Center On Safari
  • Musician Matthew Ebel
  • Artist "Lizardbeth"
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
  • Artist Zhivago Daemon
2012 March 15–19 Sheraton Atlanta Hotel 1,902 $18,000 Conservator's Center Furries at the Moulin Rouge
  • Author Kyell Gold
  • Artist and writer Rukis Croax
2013 March 14–17 Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel 2,396 $18,400 Conservator's Center[7][8] Still in Love
  • Artist and fursuiter Jimmy Chin
  • Artist Hibbary
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
  • Artist "Silverfox5213"
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"
  • Syber
2018 April 4–8 Atlanta Marriott Marquis 5,193 $50,000 Conservator's Center Galactic Gunslingers
  • Strype
  • Kazul
2019 May 9–13 Atlanta Marriott Marquis 5,645 $50,000 Conservator's Center Pirates
2020 Cancelled[9]
Originally scheduled for May 7–11		 Atlanta Marriott Marquis — — Conservator's Center The Enchanted Forest
  • Marc Knelsen / El Ranno
2021 Convention moved online May 7–8 At Home — — Conservator's Center The Enchanted Forest —
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
  • Artist "Jacato"
2024 May 9–12 Atlanta Marriott Marquis 15,021 $100,000 Lost N Found Youth Furry University: Homecoming
  • Logan Preshaw (Wickedinsignia)[10]
2025

(Upcoming)

May 8–11 Atlanta Marriott Marquis — — — FuturePunk
  • Jonathan Vair Duncan
  • Sasha R. Jones
  • Red Means Recording[11]

References

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  1. ^ Martinez, Melysa (March 1, 2012). "Previewing Furry Weekend Atlanta". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  2. ^ Friedman, Maura (April 4, 2016). "Furry Weekend Atlanta takes over Downtown". Creative Loafing. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  3. ^ "Furry Weekend Atlanta". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. sn: 77413227, rn: 3539798. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Our Charity – Conservators' Center, Inc". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Furry Weekend Atlanta's History - Past Conventions". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  7. ^ Dyer, Candice (March 13, 2013). "Furry Weekend Atlanta turns 10". Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  8. ^ Sun, Feifei (March 18, 2013). "Scenes from Furry Weekend Atlanta 2013". Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Garger, Kenneth (March 17, 2020). "Atlanta furry convention canceled due to coronavirus". Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Furry Weekend Atlanta. "2024 Guest of honor reveal". Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Furry Weekend Atlanta (May 12, 2024). "FWA 2025 Theme Announcement". Twitter.
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