FURSUIT PHOTO & PARADE.
The annual Fursuit Photo & Parade are back! Here’s everything you need to know about participating in them.
SCHEDULE.
Date: Saturday, January 20, 2024
- 12:30 PM: The Grand Ballroom doors open. You can start lining up for the Fursuit Photo & Parade inside the Grand Ballroom. Please arrive as early as possible! We cannot admit late arrivals.
- 1:30 PM: The Grand Ballroom doors close. We’ll start the process of taking the Fursuit Photo. If you arrive after 1:30 PM and want to participate in the Fursuit Parade, ANE staff will ask you to wait in the Commonwealth Ballroom while we take the Fursuit Photo.
- 1:35 PM: The Fursuit Photo is taken.
- 1:45 PM: The Fursuit Parade starts.
- 3:00 PM: All attendees must exit the Grand Ballroom by 3:00 PM so we can start setting up for the next event.
FURSUIT PHOTO.
- Location: Grand Ballroom
- Doors open (line up starts): 12:30 PM
- Doors close (line up ends): 1:30 PM
- Photo is taken: 1:35 PM
The Fursuit Photo is a massive group photo of (almost) all of the fursuiters at ANE! Anyone wearing a fursuit or animal costume/cosplay is welcome to participate in the Fursuit Photo. If you’re not participating in the Photo, or you’re a handler or parent/guardian, we’ll ask you to make your way to the side of the room before 1:30 PM.
Please arrive as early as possible! We cannot admit late arrivals. You must arrive before 1:30 PM to participate in the photo. If you arrive after 1:30 PM and still want to participate in the Fursuit Parade, ANE staff will ask you to wait in the Commonwealth Ballroom while we take the Fursuit Photo.
After the Fursuit Photo, we will start preparing for the Fursuit Parade.
FURSUIT PARADE.
- Location: starts in the Grand Ballroom and proceeds outside
- Start: 1:45 PM
- End: 3:00 PM
The Fursuit Parade is an opportunity for you to show off your fursuit and fursuiting antics for all of ANE to see!
The Fursuit Parade route starts in the Grand Ballroom, exits the hotel, proceeds around the block, and re-enters the hotel via the main entrance (please see map for details). The route is approximately 1/2 mile long. It will take you 15–20 minutes to complete the Parade, but keep in mind that you will also have to wait to exit the Grand Ballroom.
There will be ANE staff positioned along the route, wearing high-visibility vests. If you need any assistance during the Parade, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of them.
- Drink water before participating in the Parade! There will be water stations in the Grand Ballroom and Commonwealth Ballroom.
- Follow instructions from ANE staff. There will be ANE staff positioned along the route to ensure your safety. Please follow their instructions!
- Avoid stopping. If you need to stop for any reason, please move to the side so the Parade can continue moving.
- No running. We don’t want you to trip or fall or run into someone. Please walk at a leisurely pace to ensure the Parade moves smoothly.
- Avoid floor draggers (fursuit tails that drag on the floor). If your tail drags on the floor, please hold it while you participate in the Parade.
- No flagpoles or signs. They pose a safety hazard and may obstruct other fursuiters or damage hotel property. Flags worn as capes or held in your hands are fine, as long as they don’t drag on the floor.
Stay on the route. You are welcome to explore Boston on your own at a later time, but you must follow the route when participating in the Parade.
The Fursuit Parade route starts in the Grand Ballroom, exits the hotel, proceeds around the block, and re-enters the hotel via the main entrance (please see map for details). The route is approximately 1/2 mile long. It will take you 15–20 minutes to complete the Parade, but keep in mind that you will also have to wait to exit the Grand Ballroom.
There will be ANE staff positioned along the route, wearing high-visibility vests. If you need any assistance during the Parade, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of them.
Unlike many other fursuit parades, the majority of the ANE Fursuit Parade is outdoors. That means there are additional safety considerations that you should keep in mind.
The route follows the sidewalk around the hotel. There will be dirt, leaves, water, and other hazards. We will attempt to remove any hazards before the Parade starts, but we cannot guarantee that the path will be completely clear.
The route crosses one street (as marked on the map). It is a low-traffic street that is only used to access the parking garage and loading dock, but there will still be traffic. ANE staff will help you cross safely. Please follow their directions!
We’ll be carefully monitoring the weather on Saturday morning. Unfortunately, if we deem the weather conditions to be unsuitable, we’ll have to cancel the Fursuit Parade. We cannot delay, reroute, or reschedule the Parade.
If we have to cancel the Fursuit Parade, the decision will be announced by Saturday at 12:00 PM on all of our social media platforms. The Fursuit Photo will happen as scheduled.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
