Furry Weekend Atlanta

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

Furry Weekend Atlanta
StatusActive
GenreFurry
VenueAtlanta Marriott Marquis, Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Location(s)Atlanta, Georgia
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2004
Most recent2023
Attendance10,328 in 2023
Organized byFurry Weekend Atlanta, Inc.
Websitewww.furryweekend.com
Fursuiters at Furry Weekend Atlanta 2015

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.[3] Originally held around Valentine's Day, the convention was rescheduled to be held mid-March in 2009. In January 2022, Furry Weekend Atlanta's Twitter announced they have partnered with the Hilton Atlanta hotel nearby as a ‘overflow hotel’ for their upcoming convention later this year.[4]

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.[5]

Charity

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.[6]

Furry Weekend Atlanta attendance by year

Furry Weekend Atlanta by year
YearDates[7]Location[7]Attendance[7]Charity
Donation		Charity Theme[7] Guests of Honor[7]
2004February 13–15Holiday Inn Atlanta270—Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary—
  • Fursuit maker and graphic artist Valentina Caicedo
2005February 11–13Holiday Inn Atlanta500$3,000Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary
  • Artist Jessica Maia Albee, aka "Jessie T. Wolf"
  • Artist "Fel"
2006February 17–19Holiday Inn Atlanta563$4,000Ellijay Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary
2007February 16–18Sheraton Gateway Hotel762—Conservator's Center
  • Artist "Strider Orion"
  • Artist Daria McGrain
2008February 15–17Sheraton Gateway Hotel1,046$5,001Conservator's Center
  • Artist "Bonk"
  • Fursuiter "TILT Longtail"
2009March 19–22Hilton Atlanta1,371$5,054Conservator's CenterOn Safari
  • Musician Matthew Ebel
  • Artist "Lizardbeth"
2010March 25–28Hilton Atlanta1,564$4,600Conservator's CenterCarnaval!
  • "Kami Cheetah"
2011March 17–21Sheraton Atlanta Hotel1,621$8,000Conservator's CenterFurries in Wonderland
  • Fursuit makers and fursuiters Lacy and Nick
  • Artist Zhivago Daemon
2012March 15–19Sheraton Atlanta Hotel1,902$18,000Conservator's CenterFurries at the Moulin Rouge
  • Author Kyell Gold
  • Artist and writer Rukis Croax
2013March 14–17Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel2,396$18,400Conservator's Center[8][9]Still in Love
  • Artist and fursuiter Jimmy Chin
  • Artist Hibbary
2014March 20–23Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel2,488$20,000Conservator's CenterFurry University
  • Artist and fursuiter "Louvelex"
2015April 9–12Atlanta Marriott Marquis3,252$28,000Conservator's CenterShangri La: Furgotten Orient
  • Artist Reimina Clover Keishana
  • Artist "Silverfox5213"
2016March 31–April 3Atlanta Marriott Marquis3,431$28,922Conservator's CenterCamp Furry Weekend
  • Artist "Demicoeur"
2017April 6–9Atlanta Marriott Marquis4,274$35,000Conservator's CenterGame On!
  • Artist "Chibi-Marrow"
  • Syber
2018April 4–8Atlanta Marriott Marquis5,193$50,000Conservator's CenterGalactic Gunslingers
  • Strype
  • Kazul
2019May 9–13Atlanta Marriott Marquis5,645$50,000Conservator's CenterPirates
2020Cancelled[10]
Originally scheduled for May 7–11		Atlanta Marriott Marquis——Conservator's CenterThe Enchanted Forest
  • Marc Knelsen / El Ranno
2021Convention moved online May 7–8At Home——Conservator's CenterThe Enchanted Forest—
2022May 5–9Atlanta Marriott Marquis7,212$50,000Conservator's CenterThe 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 Unreleased Unreleased Unreleased Conservators Center Furry University: Homecoming
  • Logan Preshaw (Wickedinsignia)[11]

References
  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. "FWA expands hotel room space with Hilton Atlanta". Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  5. "Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  6. "Our Charity – Conservators' Center, Inc". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  7. "Furry Weekend Atlanta's History - Past Conventions". Furry Weekend Atlanta. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  8. Dyer, Candice (March 13, 2013). "Furry Weekend Atlanta turns 10". Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  9. Sun, Feifei (March 18, 2013). "Scenes from Furry Weekend Atlanta 2013". Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  10. Garger, Kenneth (March 17, 2020). "Atlanta furry convention canceled due to coronavirus". Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  11. Furry Weekend Atlanta. "2024 Guest of honor reveal". Retrieved May 27, 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Furry Weekend Atlanta.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.