Since 2004, thousands of anthropomorphic animal fans flock to Atlanta each year to participate in Furry Weekend Atlanta, the fourth-largest furry convention in the world.
The Atlanta Marriott Marquis’ lobby is eerily silent this year, devoid of those who annually fill it with laughs, loud music and cheerful banter after convention staff canceled the convention due to COVID-19.
“We have a long journey ahead of us, but rest assured, our directors, staff, volunteers, vendors and many more are committed to making sure [Furry Weekend Atlanta] returns,” the convention’s cancellation letter stated. “We are all in this together, and this community never ceases to amaze us.”
While the Marriott Marquis is quieter than usual on convention weekend, the furry community is as active as ever. The convention’s cancellation led to vibrant online streaming events, like Furry Weekend At-Home.
Furry Weekend At-Home is a recurring event including various streaming panels, an online artist alley and “dealer’s den,” raffles and games.
Furry Weekend Atlanta’s virtual events draw in new attendees, like Mercedes McDonald, who joined the furry community in February 2020.
“I played Jackbox [Games] with a whole group of other furs, and we were able to let loose, laugh and enjoy our lives, even through the worst of quarantine,” McDonald said.
Most people who identify as furries have a “fursona,” a combination of the words “furry” and “persona,” or an anthropomorphic character to represent themselves.
McDonald’s fursona is a wolf named Syriah. It’s her favorite animal because she has happy memories and feelings associated with the species.
“I wanted my fursona to not only make me happy but everyone who gets to see her too,” McDonald said.
Max Darby, whose fursona is a yellow mongoose, attended Furry Weekend Atlanta in person for six years in a row. He reminisced on in-person experiences that online conventions can’t mimic.
“I attended cons to see friends and catch a few cool things in the area, like the year The Glitch Mob came to Atlanta and then crashed the con and went to the rave. [They were] very surreal experiences, and a nice vacation away from the usual,” Darby said. “Some of the happiest moments are getting pictures with people on the street and seeing how happy we make them.”
Alexander Bryan planned on attending Furry Weekend Atlanta in 2020 but was disappointed to hear that convention organizers canceled the event. Still, Bryan, who joined the furry community a little over a year ago, feels at home.
“[Being a part of the furry community] has helped me realize that I shouldn’t care what other people think of me,” Bryan said. “I know what I’m capable of, and if people see me differently, that’s their loss.”
While connecting with friends and making memories in-person again is an exciting prospect for most furries, COVID-19 will impact the way conventions operate for years to come.
“Now that there’s a shift in health mentalities and showing that we’re still susceptible to pandemics that can rage out of control, I can imagine even within myself that there’s some apprehension about being in such close spaces with others,” Darby said.
