So, what are Furries? I have heard all kinds of crazy rumors. So when my son first expressed interest in this scene, I did some research. I was baffled by rumors that Furries think they are actual animals and use litter boxes. But that is so far from the truth.
Furries are essentially people who create and dress up as personalized mascots. They are much like those who enjoy Renaissance Fairs or Comic Con. And this weekend was Anthro Weekend Utah, or AWU, so I went with my son and his friends.
I saw people in all kinds of different costumes. They all had animal themes. (Think Zootopia and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.) The Furries refer to these costumes as their “Fur-sonas.” Cute.
There are back stories that go along with each character, and every one of them is unique. Some animal costumes are combinations of more than one animal. I discovered Shark Puppies this weekend. They are dogs with spines on their back and large, elaborate shark tails.
Creative Costumes
Anything you can imagine is possible. And there were some super cute costumes! You could go as involved as you wanted with the costume. Some people kept it simple, wearing ears on headbands, or a tail. At the same time, others were in full fur suits. And many people not only have a full fur suit, but also merch to share with anyone interested.
I got so many cool stickers, keychains, and even a bracelet with the person’s character on it. And everyone I asked was happy to pose for a picture. Some of these fursuits were seriously impressive! And there were as many variations as there are people.
I saw a dragon, a giant moth, and many adorable animals. Some costumes were more subtle, where you had to look for the animal element in the costume. One person was dressed up as the Mandalorian in full gear, but added a tail. And there were several guys dressed in full army tactical gear with tails added.
One guy was dressed in SWAT gear and had a sign on the back of his bulletproof vest that said “Furry Containment.” It was humorous and creative. And there were a lot of people dressed as pirates because that was the theme for this year.
Friendly People
I enjoyed meeting new friends. The Furry community is full of people who enjoy playing dress up. One guy I met does LARPing on the weekends. (LARP is Live Action Role Play. If you want to know more, the TV show Shakespeare and Hathaway Season 2 Episode 2 taught me a lot.)
I saw a lot of artistic people with dramatic flair. And some folks chose to be mute when they were in costume. One guy had studied how his animal moves, and as he would pose for pictures, his poses were authentic because of it.
There were thousands of people at Anthro Weekend Utah. And both the convention and the venue did such a good job. They had an opening ceremony with great animations and a cute storyline to introduce the event.
The organizers of Anthro Weekend Utah made sure there was something for everyone. If you like to draw, there are drawing classes. And if you were new, there was a meeting to help you get the most out of your convention experience.
Anthro Weekend Utah was well done. I loved the costume parade, where everyone got to show off their creativity. And they took a giant group picture. Here is last year’s photo.
The opening ceremony included a video and a short stage play introducing the theme for the weekend, connecting it to last year’s event. There were T-shirts and featured artists, and a Dealers Den where you could buy all kinds of things.
One vendor was selling foam heads you could build your character around. And even some completed costume heads for purchase. The most prevalent thing I saw was animal-focused and andromorphic art for sale, in every conceivable form. (Think Zootopia and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.)
Large Variety of Activities
Anthro Weekend Utah had a dance competition, and every evening there was a dance with DJs and live music. They published an itinerary of events, and filled 3 days, with something new every hour. I loved the panel about making fur suits. It takes a lot of creativity and skill to create them.
And I was surprised they even had salsa dancing classes and an escape room. There was a panel discussion about Audio/Visual on stage, and it was extremely informative. My son loved that one.
There was a casino night (without actual gambling because that is illegal in Utah). And their charity auction raised more than any other convention in the country, per person, last year.
Sunday evening, there was a dance competition for those in costume. It was a big deal! I am amazed how well people can move in their fur suits. With the limited visibility in the fur heads, I was not expecting that.
Great experience
Anthro Weekend Utah did an amazing job of creating a safe space for everyone to come together. All the vendors had background checks. No suggestive costumes were allowed. And every door had security and support staff on hand. Check-in was easy and fast, and there were concessions available, along with bathroom facilities for every gender, and even a quiet room for anyone feeling a little overwhelmed.
Honestly, I think every parent entering the furry world has concerns, which is one of the reasons I went to Anthro Weekend Utah. But I was impressed. They provided a great environment for these kids to make friends and learn more about things that interest them. I felt included, too, and even met people in costume who were older than I am.
I’m grateful I didn’t listen to the rumors and checked out the Furry community for myself. The creativity, friendliness, and fun environment I found were worth the time and effort. If you liked this article, please leave your comments below. I am very interested in your opinion on this topic. You can receive an email every time I publish if you sign up for our newsletter below.
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