The furries are back in Pittsburgh this weekend for the annual Anthrocon convention and with it comes fun and big bucks!
2025 is the 19th year the furries have descended upon the Downtown Pittsburgh area.
Anthrocon is celebration of the anthropomorphic or, animal with human-like qualities, (Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Tony The Tiger and others).
Many of the people in attendance have their own costume they wear that is their own character, but as John “K.P.” Cole points out “only about 25 to 30 percent of our attendees even have costumes.”
“The rest of us could be artists, writers, musicians, dancers, anything that you can imagine from an artist perspective happens at Anthrocon as well, it’s just got an animal theme to it,” Cole tells The Big K Morning Show.
Stage performances, puppetry, costume workshops, comedy acts, and more are just some of the events you’ll get to experience if you are able to get into Anthrocon.
Cole says they have picked Pittsburgh to be their home year-after-year because of how friendly the area is.
“Nobody achieves the level of acceptance, warmth and welcome that Pittsburgh has given to the furry community,” says Cole.
Furries are always happy to take selfies with anyone who asks. The annual parade is Saturday at 2 p.m. with events kicking off on Thursday and running through Sunday.
The sold-out event will also bring and economy boon to our area, with visitors from all six continents visiting Pittsburgh. generating $21.3 million in direct spending, per VisitPittsburgh.
So, what makes someone want to be a “furry”?
Cole says:
“We were the kids in school that really craved a lot of social interaction but we really didn’t get it from our peers,” said Cole. “Whether it not being picked for sports teams, being left out at parties . . . we wanted that social acceptance and where we did find it was in the happy, smiling faces of cartoon characters that we saw on television.”
“We’re simply people that never found their childhood friend.”
Visit the Anthrocon website for the latest schedules and other information.