What LVFC Means to Me

What LVFC Means to Me

Dirdwolf and Dior on the LVFC 2025 Rooftop
Photo by KorbinRock

There’s a post I made following LVFC 2026 on Twitter. Sometimes when I’m feeling down, I go back and read it. Usually, I start tearing up a little. It’s probably the most honest I’ve ever been publicly about what LVFC means to me and why I care about it so much.

I’ve talked before about how seriously I take my role as Vice-Chair, and how much of my personal philosophy gets reflected in the convention itself. I’ve also talked about how massive an undertaking running an event like this really is, and how much of it only works because of the people around me. The staff, the attendees, the venues, the performers, the party hosts, the volunteers. None of this exists because of one person.

But I don’t think I’ve ever really sat down here and explained why this convention matters to me on such a personal level.

So, this is my story about it.

The Dream

If you stand on the rooftop at Alexis Park, you can actually see my childhood bedroom window. It’s only about a ten-minute walk away.

Growing up in Las Vegas was weirdly magical. I got to see incredible shows like Lance Burton and Mystere as a kid. I watched giant resorts like Wynn, Encore and Cosmopolitan rise out of the desert in real time. At the same time, I was sitting at my computer watching videos of furry conventions like Anthrocon, MFF, and Eurofurence. I wanted one of those conventions here so badly.

Back then, I genuinely didn’t understand why Las Vegas didn’t already have a furry convention. I know the answer now. It’s because running one is a LOT of fucking work haha.

Anime conventions were everywhere at the time. One of the first cons I attended was Anime Vegas at Alexis Park, which makes this all feel even more surreal in hindsight. But furry conventions felt different. Califur and Further Confusion were the closest ones I could realistically attend, and I absolutely loved them, but it still wasn’t the same as having one in my hometown.

Me in my first fursuit at Alexis Park
November 11, 2011

There were attempts over the years. In fact, in 2012, CynWolfe of now defunct Confurgence had visited Las Vegas and met with me. We discussed the feasibility of running a convention in Las Vegas, though nothing ever came of it. ESG looked promising for a bit, but it ended after a short run. SCMC took a shot at it. We all know how that ended… Eventually I gave up hope entirely.

I grew up. I moved away from Las Vegas. Life changed. New adventures elsewhere…

But around fifteen years after I used to stare out that bedroom window wishing for a furry convention in my city, some incredibly talented people who I now consider close friends launched this tiny event called LVFC.

And suddenly that dream existed.

My Involvement with LVFC

Year One (2023)

I practically begged to help.

“Finally, an event run by locals. These people GET IT. Alexis Park? Only a VEGAN (the term I use for local) would intentionally pick this weird little three star resort and think ‘yeah, this is the place.’ I’m so in. What do you need? I’ll do anything.”

They let me help, and I had an absolute blast.

Year Two (2024)

Teach me everything…

At this point I’d attended hundreds of conventions around the world. I had so many ideas floating around in my head from experiences at other events, and I wanted to learn how all the backend operations worked so I could help improve things. I learned a ton that year, but I also realized how much administrative work goes into conventions that attendees never see.

Year Three (2025)

Bring in people I trust.

Put people into roles that align with what they’re passionate about. If helping at the convention feels miserable or exhausting all the time, then something is broken organizationally.

One of my biggest beliefs is this:

“If you’re not having fun in your role, then the organization needs fixing.”

Year Four (2026)

Take everything we’ve learned and run with it.

Adapt quickly. Stay calm under pressure. Try new things. Improve weak points.

No rooftop in 2026? Cool. Here’s GROWL instead.

Your flight lands at midnight? Dealers den setup took too long? We chillin’. Registration stays open until 2AM.

I’m not gonna lie. LVFC 2026 was some of the most stress I’ve ever experienced in my life. Running an event at this scale is way harder than I ever imagined when I was younger dreaming about it from my bedroom window.

But despite all of it, I still got to fursuit a ton.

I still got to shake my tail at THRIVE OR DIE.

I still got to take shots in B26 at night with my friends and be unapologetically myself.

And honestly? That means everything to me.

I finally got to experience the kind of furry convention I dreamed about as a teenager. Maybe not exactly how I originally imagined it, since now I’m helping run the thing instead of just attending it, but somehow that makes it even more meaningful.

The fact I get to share this dream with thousands of other people makes every stressful day worth it.

And weirdly enough, the thing I miss most about the rooftop stage isn’t even the Strip view or the mountains.

It’s being able to see my old bedroom window.

Dirdwolf and Searcher Coyote on the LVFC 2025 Rooftop
Photo by PeyYote

The same place where I used to sit and imagine a future where I had my own fursuit, surrounded by friends from around the world, all gathered together in my hometown for something we created ourselves.

Viva Las Vegas.

We ALL did this together. Let’s enjoy it together.

My Personal Vision For LVFC

This next part is my personal stance and philosophy regarding LVFC. It does not represent the organization as a whole, but reflects my role within the organization. I’m not a founding member of LVFC, but I do think my passion and dedication helped lead me to where I am now, and as long as I’m part of this organization, I’m going to continue giving it everything I’ve got.

I am unbelievably proud of our staff, our venues, our performers, our DJs, our party hosts, and honestly even myself for helping pull this off successfully.

Personally, I lean toward fun over endless growth.

I want LVFC to feel like a convention that becomes whatever you want it to be.

  • Want a relaxed poolside vacation with drinks and friends? You can do that.
  • Want dealers den, game rooms, and traditional con events? You can do that.
  • Want giant parties and raves until dawn? You can do that too.
  • If you want a loud chaotic hotel full of parties, we have one.
  • If you want a quieter suite experience, we have that too.
  • If you want casinos and nightlife, they’re right next door.

That flexibility is important to me. That flexibility leaves nobody out, it provides a space for you no matter what you’re into.

And if LVFC ever stops being fun, or if we ever reach a point where we can no longer realistically operate the event in the spirit that made people love it in the first place, I personally would rather end it respectfully than slowly turn it into something hollow just because people are nostalgic for it.

I would never want to keep something alive if we knew we couldn’t meet the expectations people have for it, I would not save a dying horse as the saying goes.

That wouldn’t be fair to attendees, staff, or anyone else involved.

Again, I’m only one voice within the organization, but I would rather walk away knowing we created something special than desperately try to save something that lost what made it meaningful.

Because I genuinely love LVFC.

It’s a dream come true.

What I Wrote The Last Night Of The Convention

The last night of the con, I posted this:

Thank you all for coming. Since I was a kid, I dreamed of a furry convention in my neighborhood. I always thought the potential was here, and while others tried and failed, we made it work. Four fucking years in a row! Thanks to some amazing and talented friends, we pulled this off. Can’t wait to see you again next year! Tonight, I’ll dance like nobody’s watching. Tonight, I’ll be wild and free. If you see me, feel free to give me a hug or dance with me. Enjoy the last night in Vegas. HAVE FUN YALL!!!

And honestly, that pretty much still sums up how I felt.

The response to the convention this year was overwhelmingly positive. Everywhere I looked, people were talking about how much fun they had.

Some people even started making memes about “gatekeeping LVFC” so they could secure spots next year haha.

I even leaned into the joke a little from the official LVFC account.

There’s also people I really hope we can bring out in the future, like PINKSOCIALCLUB.

I want this convention to succeed. I always have.

People have noticed how passionate I am about LVFC, and I don’t think that passion is ever going away.

To everyone who helped make this event what it was, thank you.

To everyone who traveled all the way to my hometown and had fun with us, thank you.

And as long as I can, I’ll keep working on making it even better.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at our next event!

-dirdwolf

Dirdwolf and Dior on the LVFC 2025 Rooftop
Photo by KorbinRock