Califur

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(Redirected from CaliFur)

**Califur**
FENEC
Califur 0 (2004)
Califur 1 (2005)
Califur 2 (2006)
Califur 3 (2007)
Califur 4 (2008)

Califur Diego
Califur Train

Califur staff
Califur guests of honor

Califur is a convention that succeeded the long-running ConFurence as the annual furry event of Southern California. Califur is organized by FENEC Adventures. Related events include Califur Train, and Califur Diego. Attendance has grown from 328 persons in the first year to 587 as of 2008.

1 Origin of FENEC and Califur
2 History
3 Related events
- 3.1 Califur Train
- 3.2 Califur Diego
4 External links

[edit] Origin of FENEC and Califur

FENEC ("Furries Enjoying the Natural Environments of California") was conceived by Robert "Alohawolf" Johnson Jr., Dawn Britt, and Dennis Carr with the initial idea of having a furry-themed campout. While riding home from the southern California FurBQ, Dawn had commented to Dennis and his wife, Karmin, about the lack of other camping events such as Feral! in Southern California. Dennis pointed this out while chatting on the Furnet IRC Network, and Robert took charge from there.

As the campout was being planned, additional staffers including Glen Wooten, Zsanene "Zee" Stevens, Tank "Trapa" Winters, "Drew kitty" along with ConFurence co-founders Mark Merlino and Rod O'Riley were brought on board. With the demise of ConFurence in 2003, Mark and Robert expressed a desire to see a regional convention maintained in Southern California. The decision was made in early autumn of 2003 to plan a traditional hotel-based convention to succeed ConFurence 2003 with Califur 0 the following year.

[edit] History

[edit] Califur 0

The first Califur was held May 28-30, 2004 at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, California. Though original expectations were modest, this inaugural dry run had an unexpected 328 attendees, over five times that of Confurence 0.

Between 2004 and 2005, there were many staffing changes, but significant growth was achieved in both room registrations and attendance.

[edit] Califur 1

The second Califur was held May 20-22, 2005 with an island theme and had 383 attendees at The Holiday Inn in Costa Mesa, California, a 15% gain over the previous year.

After 2005, there were some minor staff changes, with Zsanene "TigerEyes" Stevens being selected by the FENEC board to succeed original Califur founder Robert "Alohawolf" Johnson Jr. as the new chairperson.

[edit] Califur 2

The third Califur was held May 5-7, 2006 with a pirate theme and had 434 attendees at the same location as the previous year.

[edit] Califur 3

The fourth Califur was held May 4-6, 2007 and had 496 registered attendees at the same location as Califur 1 and 2. The theme was "Our Favorite Furry Villains" (Scar, Professor Ratigan, Don Karnage, Jack Salem, Bun Bun, and many more). The Artist Guests of Honor were Balaa and Roz Gibson, and the Musical Guest of Honor was Marc Gunn (creator of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers). The 2006 Ursa Major Awards was held on the opening night of the convention. Dealers Den spaces were sold out at least a month before the event, indicating that the con had again outgrown its venue.

[edit] Califur 4

The fifth Califur was 15-18, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, California. The steampunk theme was announced on the last day of Califur 3.

[edit] Related events

[edit] Califur Train

A train trip has been organized each May by co-chair Trapa to help Vancouver and Seattle area furries make the long journey to Califur in Southern California.

[edit] Califur Diego

Califur Diego is "a furry artist reception" held during the annual Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. This furmeet was inspired by the now-defunct CritterConDiego which also scheduled its events in the evening after the Comic-Con dealer rooms were closed. It was most recently held on July 22, 2006 at the Horton Grand Hotel. It is next scheduled to be held on July 27-28, 2007.