Midwest FurFest

Background and history

Midwest FurFest started as a furry focused part of the now defunct DucKon, a Chicago-based science fiction convention. 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 those attended present due to interest in the furry component of the convention.

Interest in furry specific activities grew to a size that it was no longer feasible to exist 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. 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. It has helped raise over US$1,400,000 for various charities.

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. Later, an investigation found a broken glass bottle containing a concentration of chlorine powder inside the building. 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.

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.

Locations, attendances, and charity donations by year

References

References

1. (3 January 2017). "Furry Fandom Conventions, 1989-2015". McFarland & Company.
2. (2018-03-13). "DucKon - Fancyclopedia 3".
3. Peregrin, Tony. (20 November 2019). "Fur the record".
4. (2023-04-02). "Midwest FurFest".
5. "PREVIOUS CHARITIES".
6. "Police investigating chlorine gas incident at 'Furry' convention as criminal act".
7. Mazza, Ed. (8 December 2014). "Furry Convention Chlorine Gas Incident Sickens 19 Near Chicago".
8. (7 December 2014). "'Furry' convention disrupted as 'intentional' gas incident sends 19 to hospitals".
9. (11 February 2016). "The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention".
10. (8 December 2014). "'Furry' Convention Disrupted by 'Intentional' Chlorine Gas Attack, 19 Hospitalized".
11. Dickson, E. J.. (2019-09-16). "Furries Got an Alt-Right Troll Banned From Their Convention".
12. Midwest 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!".
13. "Midwest FurFest Raises $92,000 for SitStayRead!".
14. "Thanks to all our attendees for making this possible — We couldn't have done it without you!".
15. (23 January 2022). "MFF 2021 wrapup".
16. Midwest FurFest. (December 4, 2022). "Live from closing ceremonies: Thank you to our 13,641 attendees. You make this convention special!".
17. "Closing Ceremonies: Registration at its peak helped nearly 1700 people an hour. Thank you to our 15,547 attendees. You make this con special.".
18. "@FurFest you are an incredible community and you are now and furever part of the Roo Family. They raised $185,758.31 for animals with cancer. We laughed, we cried and we sobbed as I read the total. It will help so many people and animals that need us. We will never forget this.".
19. Midwest FurFest. (December 8, 2024). "[Live Dispatch from our Closing Ceremonies] Thank you to ALL of our 16,800 attendees. We wouldn't be who we are without each other.".
20. Midwest FurFest. (December 8, 2024). "Okay LATE ADDITIONS from the crowd to round it to $136,000 even.".
21. Midwest FurFest. (December 7, 2025). "Joining us from 44 countries, and including 1572 Sponsors, 297 Shiny Sponsors, and One Goose with a Knife; We wouldn't be anything without our 16,925 attendees.".