Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. is a community-driven, volunteer-led organization that is devoted to providing memorable, educational, inclusive, and safe experiences where our community is encouraged to explore and express their true self. We are a non-profit corporation, organized pursuant to the Georgia Non-Profit Corporation Code. It is headed by an Executive Committee and tasked with operating a yearly convention to provide high-quality education and entertainment for our attendees in a safe and fun environment, and to promote the acceptance and appreciation of the anthropomorphic fandom in the Southeast and throughout the country as a whole. As a non-profit corporation, only funds necessary for the continuing operation of the convention are retained; the remaining funds are donated to appropriate charities.
From 2004 until 2008, the convention ran every February, usually in the middle part of the month around Valentine’s Day. Beginning in 2009, Furry Weekend Atlanta moved to late March or early April. Since 2019, the convention has been held over Mothers day weekend and has expanded into multiple hotels in downtown Atlanta.
In 2004, Furry Weekend Atlanta welcomed 270 people to the dogwood city for the inaugural year of the convention and raised nearly $2000 dollars for their partner charity. Since then Furry Weekend has grown year over year, has outgrown convention spaces across the city, and in 2024 welcomed over 15,000 people across 4 hotels and convention spaces, and raised $100,000 for Lost and Found Youth, FWA’s newest charity partner. The dedicated individuals that make FWA happen each year and through their efforts and the communities passion for FWA has made FWA one of the largest furry conventions in the world!
About Anthropomorphics (or “furry”)
Put simply, anthropomorphism is endowing human characteristics to nonhuman objects. Usually taking the form of human characteristics given to animals, anthropomorphism have been with humanity from the very earliest cave paintings to our modern marketing icons and sports mascots. It is only in the last several decades that the study of and fandom for anthropomorphism (commonly called the “furry” fandom) has been recognized as unique and deserving of attention. Furry Weekend intends to provide a place where fans of anthropomorphic animals can come together for fun, fellowship, and education.
Unfortunately, as with many subculture groups, the furry fandom is often misunderstood by the mainstream media. Images of the fandom have been greatly exaggerated and played up for pure shock value by programs.
Many of our fans are well-educated, gainfully employed members of society who simply have a hobby. It’s a hobby that’s not different from Star Trek “trekkies,” comic book fans, or those interested in reenacting past events like the Civil War or the medieval era. In addition to all genders, ethnicities, and personal backgrounds, all professions are represented among the furry fandom to include: doctors, lawyers, writers, artists, programmers, students, and more. We are all bound together by our interest in this fascinating cultural phenomenon. We invite the curious to toss aside the uninformed opinions of others and come find out more about what the furry fandom is really about…