This last Saturday evening, under the light of a full moon hanging high in the sky over Central Florida, a gathering occurred.  Furloween 2012 promised dancing, dining, and degeneracy; and on all three counts the party did not disappoint.  From the excellent mix of DJ’s keeping the party wub-filled to the catering staff that truly outdid themselves on a knockout meal this year, the scene was set for quite a great evening.  Accompanied by my escaped prisoner friend Cody () and his military attack dog (), the three of us made our way to the event.  
Dressed as a famous character, priest with a shotgun (shotgun on loan from the collection), I found myself never wont for activity or friendly faces wherever I looked. This was my second Furloween and I must say I love how laid back and relaxed the atmosphere is at the event.  If you want to chill with your buddies and hit up the bar, then go for it!  Video games you’re your thing, then have at it!  Want to hit the dancefloor for all the oonts-oonts and wub-wubs you can eat, they’ve got that too!   There’s no one hassling you about schedules.  They provide the venue and the goodies and you make the evening what you want it to be.  
For me, I have to say how much I enjoyed seeing how many people came in costume.  Not just fursuiters, but people wearing costumes (sometimes fursuiters WEARING costumes).  From the undead to the esoteric, deconstructed BLT sandwich trio, to the most famous thief in the world, the one and only Carmen Sandiego (), talent and creativity was on display.   I will also say how pleased and impressed I was that Furloween even had a very special guest, a 12-year old girl who had gotten into the furry fandom over the last year and wanted to see what one of these events was like.  The organizers and the girl’s parents had spoken, talking about the event, and provided memberships for both the young lady and her mother to attend.  I was outside talking with as the pair were preparing to depart for the evening.  The smile on both the girl and her mother’s faces were nearly blinding, talking about how much fun the event was and how nice everyone had been.  The fact that Furloween is so friendly and open that even families can attend speaks highly of both the event and the inclusive, inviting furry culture in the Orlando area.  Waving them good-bye as they pulled away, the evening suddenly took on a deeper, more enjoyable meaning for having seen how happy the young lady had been.
Drawing rawing into the early morning hours, the gathered furs began to disperse.  Saying our final farewells before heading out under the flickering street lamps and under the watch of the moon, it was not hard to tell that everyone had had quite a fun evening.  And, on top of all that, Eliot’s Fall Carnival had been held that same night.  So, no matter where you were on Saturday evening, furries in Central Florida did not lack for excellent opportunities to hang out with their friends and enjoy a great evening together.