Midwest FurFest

Midwest FurFest (MFF) is a furry convention that takes place in Rosemont, Illinois, usually on the second weekend after Thanksgiving.[1] MFF is presented by Midwest Furry Fandom Inc, an Illinois Educational Not-For-Profit Corporation that exists primarily for the purpose of holding an annual convention to facilitate education in anthropomorphic literature and art. It also facilitates the donation of funds to non-profit institutions, mainly of which promote the well-being of humans and/or animals. The convention was first held in 2000 and has grown to draw 13,641 attendees in 2022.[2] As of July 2023, the 2022 event is the second most attended convention in fandom history.

Midwest FurFest
StatusActive
GenreFurry
VenueDonald E. Stephens Convention Center
Location(s)Rosemont, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2000
Most recent2022
Attendance13,641 in 2022
Organized byMidwest Furry Fandom, Inc.
Filing status501(c)3
Websitewww.furfest.org

Background and history

Midwest FurFest started as a furry focused part of the now defunct DucKon, a Chicago-based science fiction convention.[3] The furry portion of the original convention was started at DucKon 3 in 1994 and was headed up by Robert King. Interest grew each year, and it was estimated that by DucKon 8 (1999) between one-quarter and one-third of the those attended present due to interest in the furry component of the convention.[1]

Interest in furry specific activities grew to a size that it was no longer feasable to exsist as a part of DucKon, and the convention was spun off in 2000, with the creation of Midwest Furry Fandom Inc., with the first MFF happening in November 2000.[1] The convention has grown from 473 attendees in 2000 to 13,641 in 2022, making it the largest furry convention in the world by more than 3,900 attendees over the previous largest convention, Anthrocon.[4] It has helped raise over US$900,000 for various charities.[5][6]

Incidents and controversies

2014 gas attack

On December 7, 2014, a gas leak occurred at the Hyatt hotel in Rosemont, which was accommodating attendees. The hotel was evacuated, and 19 guests were hospitalized.[7] Later, an investigation found a broken glass bottle containing a concentration of chlorine powder inside the building.[8][9] 18 of the 19 people hospitalized were released soon after and the convention continued. Rosemont Police interviewed hotel guests and employees, as well as employees at local stores which sell chlorine. While these interviews and subsequent investigation did not result in any known suspects or charges, police continue to treat this as a crime.[10][11]

Milo Yiannopoulos

On September 15, 2019, Milo Yiannopoulos announced his intention to attend that year's convention. After significant backlash from other attendees on social media, Yiannopoulos was swiftly banned from the convention the following day.[12]

Locations, attendances, and charity donations by year
YearLocationAttendanceCharity
Donation		Charity
2000Arlington Heights, Illinois473$3,522Wolf Park, Valley of the Kings big cat sanctuary, and Chicago House
2001511$6,800Animals for Awareness
2002Schaumburg, Illinois685$6,088Animals for Awareness
2003800$6,500Animals for Awareness
2004959$7,000Furry Friends Foundation
20051,066$6,800Wildlife in Need
20061,422$13,049Safe Haven Wildlife Refuge
20071,690$15,193Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation
2008Wheeling, Illinois1,992$15,000Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
20092,040$12,799Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education for Wildlife
2010Rosemont, Illinois2,285$11,300Castaway Pet Rescue
20112,600$19,575Animal Education and Rescue
20123,216$40,500Felines & Canines
20133,904$28,000One Tail at a Time
20144,571$31,446Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary
20155,606$62,021Save-A-Vet
20167,075$78,482Felines & Canines
20178,771$85,000CRISP
201810,989[13]$94,000[14]SitStayRead
201911,019[15]$224,704[15]Felines & Canines
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Rosemont, Illinois9,332[16]$74,303[16]Mission Companion Paw
2022 13,641[17] $106,683.66 The Street Dog Coalition

References
  1. Patten, Fred (3 January 2017). Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015. McFarland & Company. p. 170. ISBN 978-1476663814. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  2. "MFF 2022 Wrapup". Midwest FurFest. 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  3. "DucKon - Fancyclopedia 3". 2018-03-13. Archived from the original on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  4. Peregrin, Tony (20 November 2019). "Fur the record". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  5. "Midwest FurFest". Midwest FurFest. 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  6. "PREVIOUS CHARITIES". midwestfurryfandom. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  7. "Police investigating chlorine gas incident at 'Furry' convention as criminal act". UPI.
  8. Mazza, Ed (8 December 2014). "Furry Convention Chlorine Gas Incident Sickens 19 Near Chicago". HuffPost. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  9. "'Furry' convention disrupted as 'intentional' gas incident sends 19 to hospitals". Chicago Tribune. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  10. "The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention". Vice. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  11. "'Furry' Convention Disrupted by 'Intentional' Chlorine Gas Attack, 19 Hospitalized". People.com. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  12. Dickson, E. J. (2019-09-16). "Furries Got an Alt-Right Troll Banned From Their Convention". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  13. Midwest FurFest [@FurFest] (December 21, 2018). "While we don't consider attendance numbers to be the measure of success, we are pleased to announce the final attendance for Midwest FurFest 2018: 10,989 attendees. Thank you to everyone who attended this year, and we hope to see you again at Midwest FurFest 2019!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. "Midwest FurFest Raises $92,000 for SitStayRead!". SitStayRead. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  15. "Thanks to all our attendees for making this possible — We couldn't have done it without you!". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  16. "MFF 2021 wrapup". Midwest Furfest. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  17. Midwest FurFest [@FurFest] (December 4, 2022). "Live from closing ceremonies: Thank you to our 13,641 attendees. You make this convention special!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
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