Furries Q&A: Event attracts thousands in rabbit, fox and dragon costumes to celebrate animals

ROSEMONT, Ill. — A chlorine gas evacuation turned a suburban Chicago hotel into what looked like a cartoon come to life, as people dressed in brightly colored rabbit, fox and dragon costumes were moved across the street to a convention center.

The attendees of the Midwest FurFest were celebrating anthropomorphic animal characters — meaning they've been given human characteristics — through art, literature and performance.

But many others who were part of the evacuation but not dressed as animals wondered: Who are these characters?

Some questions about FurFest:

WHAT IS THE FURFEST?

The annual convention draws thousands of "furries" who come together in the Chicago suburbs to celebrate furry fandom or art, literature and performance based around anthropomorphic animals, according to the FurFest website.

Attendees said they came for fun, but also for the spiritual and artistic aspects of the convention that have them celebrating animal characters from movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. Some also create their own characters.

The festival's roots go back to the furry programming track of Duckon, an annual science fiction convention. The furry track eventually grew enough to support its own convention. In 1999, Midwest Furry Fandom Inc. was created. FurFest was born shortly after and took place in November 2000 on the weekend before Thanksgiving. That date became tradition, until this year — the event's 15th year, according to the website.

WHAT GOES ON AT THESE CONVENTIONS?