Welcome to New Year’s Furry Ball!
New Year’s Furry Ball 2027 (NYFB 2027) is hosted by the Furst State Foundation, a not-for-profit social club and operator of The Furst State (TFS).
By registering for the NYFB 2027 event, attendees agree to abide by the following Code of Conduct, which remains in force for the duration of the New Years Furry Ball (December 29, 2026 through January 1, 2027). The staff of NYFB 2027/ TFS reserve the right to deny or revoke the membership of any individual at any time for any reason (exluding for reasons solely related to protected classes under State and Federal law). Please see the Membership section for more details.
New Year’s Furry Ball reserves the right to alter this code of conduct at any time with or without notice.
1. Membership
Membership to NYFB 2027 may be purchased by registering online during the designated pre-registration period. Valid government issued photo identification must be shown on site, and a formal agreement to this Code of Conduct must be indicated on your registration form via checkbox. Any member found to have falsified their documents, or having forged a membership card, to gain access to our convention will be denied entry, may have their membership revoked, and may be removed from the property.
The Furst State has booked the entire venue (Doubletree North Wilmington, 4727 Concord Pike Wilmington Delaware 19803) and reserved all associated guest rooms for the benefit of registered attendees of NYFB 2027. The hotel property (including all meeting rooms, ballrooms, common areas, and grounds) are hereafter defined as “Event Space” and are considered private space for the duration of the NYFB 2027 event. Presence of unregistered attendees on or in any portion of the Event Space will be considered trespassing.
At its discretion, The Furst State may audit the hotel guest list during or after the event for unregistered attendees. Any person found (during or after the event) to have attended without registration, or facilitated the attendance of unregistered individual(s), may be subject to a ban from future New Years Furry Balls and associated TFS events.
All members will receive a membership badge, which must be kept with the member and be openly visible at all times. An age verification sticker will be added to any badge to indicate that the member’s age has been verified; please see the Age Requirement section below.
Membership purchases are only valid for the convention year they are purchased, and are non-refundable and non-transferable. You may request to have your membership moved to next year if you are unable to attend this year, free of charge. Chargebacks will result in loss of membership privileges and may result in being denied future membership.
- Age Requirement: All NYFB 2027 attendees must be 18 or older on or before December 29, 2026. Age will be verified by our Registration Department through in-person ID verification.
Minors are not permitted within Main Events, the Dealer’s Den, our Panel Room, our Game Room, and our Calm Room. Any minors found within these spaces will be removed and banned from the convention.
If you are suspected of being a minor or missing the appropriate verification markers at badge checkpoints, you may be asked to present your ID. Failure to verify your age when asked by a member of NYFB staff may result in your removal from the event and potentially being banned. You may be asked to retrieve your ID from your hotel room if you are not currently carrying it.
2. Public Behavior
While at the event you are expected to remain and act in a civil manner. Rough housing, overly affectionate public displays of affection, and destructive behavior are prohibited. Harassment, stalking, or unwanted contact will be met with a "one-strike" or zero-tolerance policy, "No" means "No" always.
Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated at our events. If you have been the target of harassment, we urge you to report the incident immediately to a member of staff or a member of security. The sooner an issue is reported to us, the more appropriately we can address it. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Physical assault, battery, stalking, or unwelcome physical attention.
(b) Conduct, dress, or speech that targets, threatens, intimidates, or is otherwise intended to cause distress to other attendees, or members of protected classes (such as those based on race, age, religion, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual identity).
Remember: a costume does not imply consent.
Please be courteous to other attendees, vendor staff, and non-convention guests at all times. Remember we are in a public setting. Be kind and respectful to those around us who are just passing by.
-Respect of Property: Please respect the property of the hotel and the vendors. This means no climbing on or otherwise damaging the equipment of the hotel or any vendors, of either the hotel or New Year’s Furry Ball. If an attendee does damage any property of either NYFB, the hotel, or either of their vendors, through any means including theft, they will be held responsible for the cost of repairs and any applicable fines, and may be permanently banned from the event.
It is expected that attendees will not litter in any spaces in and around the hotel. Please clean up after yourselves.
-Dress Code: Tails, ears, collars, and other furry accessories are allowed at the event, unless otherwise specified. The only exception to this are leashes which will be asked to be removed if seen. No extremely revealing clothing will be permitted at this event and if you have such clothing on you will be asked to remove it and change into something more appropriate. It is expected that the chest, buttocks, and groin (all genders) will remain covered at all times in event spaces outside of guest rooms.
-Noise Levels: Please be courteous to our guests at the hotel and the staff of the hotel. All members are asked to keep noise to reasonable levels in both convention spaces and in the hallways of guest areas. You may be asked to reduce the volume of, or disable, any device that makes an excessive amount of noise. Failure to do so after repeated requests may result in your removal from the convention. Excessive noise is defined as any noise that disrupts the enjoyment of fellow members, or the duties of convention staff or hotel staff.
-Hygiene: It is assumed that attendees will possess a good sense of hygiene while at this event. If an attendee is bearing a noticeable offensive odor, they will be asked to rectify it or possibly be removed from the event. It is encouraged that attendees take a shower before coming to meets. Fursuiters will be given a little bit of lee-way when it comes to this rule after de-suiting based on staff judgment.
3. Alcohol and Controlled Substances
Use of alcohol and/or cannabis should be kept within moderation, and shall only be consumed by adults age 21 or older. If someone becomes too intoxicated they will be asked to leave the event prematurely and be issued a warning.
Buying alcohol and/or cannabis for minors is strictly forbidden by Furst State rules and Delaware State Law, even outside of convention-controlled spaces. If you are found out to be supplying alcohol or cannabis to a minor we will be obligated to contact the police. If you are approached by a minor to acquire alcohol and/or cannabis on their behalf, say "No" and report it to security.
NYFB 2027 maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the possession, sale, use, or and/or distribution of illegal controlled substances. Any individual found to have engaged in any of the above activities will be removed from the event, banned from future NYFB/TFS events, and referred to law enforcement.
4. Weapons
No actual weapons or any item that can be easily mistaken for one may be carried either openly or concealed at any time in NYFB 2027 Event Space. Possession of a concealed weapon, regardless of individual licensing or permit status, will result in removal from the event and possible ban from future NYFB and associated TFS events.
Personal pocket knives with single-edged blades less than 4 inches long are exempted from the above restriction
5.Pet Policy
Pets are not permitted in Event Space. Service dogs (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA, Title II) are permitted in all Event Spaces accessible to members provided that they are under appropriate control. Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Animals are NOT considered service dogs by the ADA, and are not permitted in Event Spaces.
6. Sales of Goods & Services
The offering for sale of any goods or services at our events may be undertaken only in appropriate and authorized areas such as the Dealers' Den and Photobooth In all cases the sale will be governed by the rules applicable to those areas.
The sale of goods and the sale of any other goods or services by any non-authorized party, and/or in any areas outside of the Dealer’s Den and Photobooth areas, are strictly prohibited.
7. Release of Liability
-Personal Injury:The Furst State Foundation will not be responsible for any personal injury due to neglect of the event venue or these rules, or due to rough-housing during events.
In addition, any customers must relieve the venue of any responsibility when it comes to personal injury relating to or dealing with costumes and/or masks.
-Personal Property: All event attendees will take responsibility for their own belongings. Neither the Furst State Foundation or the event venue will be held responsible for missing or damaged items.
8. Severability
If any provision of this Code of Conduct is held, in whole or in part, to be unenforceable for any reason, the remainder of that provision and of the entire Code of Conduct shall be severable and remain in effect.
