Carolina Furfare (CFF) 2026 is scheduled for Oct 1-4, 2026 in Hickory, United States. The announced theme is Cryptid Catastrophe. Guest of honor information lists Hare Coven. The charity partner is Rescue Tails Animal Sanctuary.
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From attendees
The nearest major airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), roughly 60 miles southeast of Hickory via I-40. The Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is also an option, about 50 miles west. From Charlotte, take I-77 North to I-40 West directly into Hickory. The Hickory Metro Convention Center sits along US-70, making it straightforward to reach by car. There is no direct public transit from CLT to Hickory, so plan on a rental car or coordinating a rideshare.
Curated stays near Hickory Metro Convention Center, Hickory, United States.
The convention is held at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. Several hotels cluster within a short drive of the venue along the I-40 corridor, including chains like Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Fairfield Inn. The convention typically announces a partner hotel with a group rate closer to the event.
Drawing 1,134 attendees to Hickory, Carolina Furfare 2025 featured artist The Art of Nicole. The convention raised over $10,000 for Rescue Tails Animal Sanctuary.
Historical data and growth track record
See how this convention grew over time.
| Year | Dates | Theme | Attendance | Charity Raised | Guest(s) of Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2027 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | None Announced |
2026 | Oct 1-4 | Cryptid Catastrophe | TBA | (Rescue Tails Animal Sanctuary) | Hare Coven |
2025 | Nov 6-9 | Medieval Mountains | 1,134 | $10,114(Rescue Tails) | The Art of Nicole |
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3 quirks & policies that don't fit the highlights grid.
SFW twin of Bewhiskered: CFF opts out of NCAS's R-rated panel tiers
Carolina Furfare and sibling con Bewhiskered are both run by the North Carolina Anthropomorphic Society (NCAS), but on a deliberate SFW/R split. Bewhiskered runs NCAS''s R and R+ panel tiers; CFF explicitly opts out of both, positioning itself as the family-friendly counterpart in the NCAS calendar.
The 2024 cancellation retired the "Fursona" registration tier
CFF 2024 was cancelled mid-cycle, per the convention''s own 2025 registration FAQ, which refers to the "sudden cancellation last year". One direct consequence: the "Fursona" registration tier was permanently retired, a perk SKU killed by a cancelled year rather than reshuffled for the next edition.
Volunteer-for-free-reg rung: CFF single-direction, Bewhiskered bidirectional
Both NCAS cons run the same 16 hours of volunteer work = free registration rung, but they''re wired differently: at Bewhiskered the rung is bidirectional (work either con, redeem at either con), at CFF the rung is single-direction (volunteer hours redeem at CFF only). A small but codified asymmetry between two sibling cons under the same parent org.
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