Fur-ever friends: Pittsburgh and Anthrocon's special relationship

Pickles, pierogis and … Anthrocon.

A Pittsburgh staple, the Furries are returning to Pittsburgh for a four-day event held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from Thursday through Sunday.

Organizers are projecting a record 19,000 attendees, the highest amount since the event debuted in 1997.

Anthrocon originated in Albany, N.Y., in 1997, but changed its location to Valley Forge and then Philadelphia before ultimately finding a home in Pittsburgh. After a last-minute hotel cancellation in Philadelphia, Anthrocon found itself without a venue. Fortunately, VisitPittsburgh directly contacted the organizers and invited them to bring their fursuits to Pittsburgh.

John “K.P.” (Kuddlepup) Cole, Anthrocon’s public outreach director, is proud of Pittsburgh and Anthrocon’s origin story.

“Our founder was a native Philadelphian and wasn’t sure at first, but he came to visit and saw the Fort Pitt bridge and the convention center … and decided it was a match made in heaven,” Cole said.

Cole believes the convention continues to grow each year because of its location. While many conventions stay in the hotel space for the entire weekend, furries feel drawn to the eclectic energy and warm welcome they find in Pittsburgh.

“It’s difficult to pick any specific thing that demonstrates what Anthrocon means to the city, and what the city means to Anthrocon,” Cole said. “When they see paw prints on the street and restaurateurs wearing fur ears, they feel at home. That’s why they love coming to this city.”

Perhaps the Steel City’s special relationship with Anthrocon is best demonstrated by Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen tweeting “Furries,” to mark their arrival every summer.

Andy Ortale, chief sales officer at VisitPittsburgh, takes pride in partnering with Anthrocon organizers to cultivate meaningful community bonds and collaborations.

“It doesn’t feel like summer is officially upon us until the fursuiters take to the streets of Downtown Pittsburgh,” Ortale said.

The annual furry convention is anticipated to generate more than $21.7 million in direct visitor spending and attendees have booked more than 12,000 total room nights among 21 Downtown, North Shore and Station Square hotels, according to VisitPittsburgh.

Cole started as an attendee back in 1999. A calligrapher and writer, he appreciates the community’s emphasis on art and creativity. He’s watched the art scene morph over the decades he’s been involved with Anthrocon.

“As the world progresses, the furry fandom has progressed as well,” Cole said.

This year, much of the art is digital, even incorporating virtual reality.

“Anthrocon is a place where anyone who has a talent can express that through an anthropological lens,” Cole said.

Anthrocon beckons herds of participants from all 50 states. The vast majority are from Pennsylvania, Cole said, but organizers project attendees from over 40 countries and five continents.

“No one from Antarctica yet, but we have extended invites to penguins,” Cole said.