Midwest FurFest

Midwest FurFest (abbreviated MFF) is a furry convention that takes place in Rosemont, Illinois, usually on the second weekend after Thanksgiving. MFF is 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 11,019 attendees in 2019. As of December 2021, the 2019 event is the most attended convention in fandom history.

For other uses of "MFF", see MFF.
Midwest FurFest
StatusActive
GenreFurry
VenueDonald E. Stephens Convention Center
Location(s)Rosemont, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2000
Most recent2021
Attendance9,332 in 2021
Organized byMidwest Furry Fandom, Inc.
Filing status501(c)3
Websitewww.furfest.org

Background and history

Midwest FurFest started as the furry track for DucKon, a Chicago-based science fiction convention. The furry track was started at DucKon 3 in 1994 and was headed up by Robert King. The track grew larger each year and it was estimated that by DucKon 8 (1999) between one-quarter and one-third of the attendees were there due to interest in the furry track.

The track ran into problems because it was running out of room to expand without costing other parts of DucKon programming space and time. It was decided that the best course of action was to spin off into a new convention.

Midwest Furry Fandom, Inc. was created, and Midwest FurFest's first occurrence took place in November 2000, on the weekend before Thanksgiving. MFF left DucKon on good terms; DucKon provided funding to help the convention's first year.

The convention has grown from 473 attendees in 2000 to 10,989 in 2018, making it the largest furry convention in the world by more than 2,300 attendees over the previous largest convention, Anthrocon.[1] It has helped raise over $767,000 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.[2] Later, an investigation found a broken glass bottle containing a concentration of chlorine powder inside the building.[3][4] 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.[5][6]

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.[7]

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
2001Arlington Heights, Illinois511$6,800Animals for Awareness
2002Schaumburg, Illinois685$6,088Animals for Awareness
2003Schaumburg, Illinois800$6,500Animals for Awareness
2004Schaumburg, Illinois959$7,000Furry Friends Foundation
2005Schaumburg, Illinois1,066$6,800Wildlife in Need
2006Schaumburg, Illinois1,422$13,049Safe Haven Wildlife Refuge
2007Schaumburg, Illinois1,690$15,193Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation
2008Wheeling, Illinois1,992$15,000Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy
2009Wheeling, Illinois2,040$12,799Kane Area Rehabilitation and Education for Wildlife
2010Rosemont, Illinois2,285$11,300Castaway Pet Rescue
2011Rosemont, Illinois2,600$19,575Animal Education and Rescue
2012Rosemont, Illinois3,216$40,500Felines & Canines
2013Rosemont, Illinois3,904$28,000One Tail at a Time
2014Rosemont, Illinois4,571$31,446Critter Camp Exotic Pet Sanctuary
2015Rosemont, Illinois5,606$62,021Save-A-Vet
2016Rosemont, Illinois7,075$78,482Felines & Canines
2017Rosemont, Illinois8,771$85,000CRISP
2018Rosemont, Illinois10,989[8]$94,000[9]SitStayRead
2019Rosemont, Illinois11,019[10]$224,704[10]Felines & Canines
2020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Rosemont, Illinois9,332[11]$74,303[11]Mission Companion Paw

References
  1. Peregrin, Tony. "Fur the record". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  2. "Police investigating chlorine gas incident at 'Furry' convention as criminal act". UPI.
  3. Mazza, Ed. "Furry Convention Chlorine Gas Incident Sickens 19 Near Chicago". Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. "'Furry' convention disrupted as 'intentional' gas incident sends 19 to hospitals". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  5. "The Unsolved Case of the Gas Attack at a Furry Convention". Vice. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  6. "'Furry' Convention Disrupted by 'Intentional' Chlorine Gas Attack, 19 Hospitalized". People.com. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  7. Dickson, E. J. (2019-09-16). "Furries Got an Alt-Right Troll Banned From Their Convention". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  8. "Midwest FurFest on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  9. "Midwest FurFest Raises $92,000 for SitStayRead!". SitStayRead. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  10. "Thanks to all our attendees for making this possible — We couldn't have done it without you!". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  11. "MFF 2021 wrapup". Midwest Furfest. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
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