ABF News

Attentions Bear-Mart Shoppers!

Welcome to Atlanta Bear Fest 2026!

We have finally gotten all the details worked out for 2026 and look forward to seeing you in a few months!!!

There are a few notes and changes for this year to address. A few issues have come up in the past, so please read as this applies to everyone without exception.

1. All ABF'26 attendees must be staying at the host hotel with their name registered to a room (this is for insurance reasons as well as this a Marriott rule).
2. All ABF'26 attendees must also have a VIP Ticket to attend.
3. When you book your hotel room, a 1-night deposit is required (this is fully refundable up to April 03, 2026)
4. No refunds will be given on the room or the VIP Ticket after April 03, 2026 for any reason (we understand things change for many reasons, but to be fair to everyone, no exceptions will be made to this rule).

For those of you that may not know, we are a 100% volunteer group. Everything over operating cost goes to charity. That’s why we must have a firm date on cancellations. At that point, money has been spent for supplies needed for ABF. We had several last-minute room cancellations last year resulting in some guys who wanted to be there not being able to attend. Hopefully this will fix that issue and is a general rule for most events. We hope you understand.

To recap, You must have a room at the host hotel, be registered in that room, and have a VIP Ticket to attend. A 1-night deposit is required when you book your hotel room. No refunds on the room deposit or VIP Ticket after 04/03/2026 for any reason.

We are excited about this year and can’t wait to see our wonderful ABF family again soon!

Regards,
ABF Planning Committee
8/16/2026

Welcome to the Family

Atlanta Bear Fest (ABF) was born in 2009 when Southern Bears adopted the name for our annual bear run. The event quickly became a cornerstone of the Southern Bears community, growing year after year, with 15 successful runs to date. Though the event faced major setbacks in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, the spirit of ABF remained strong.

The 2022 event, ABF22, was particularly emotional and challenging. It marked the first event after the pandemic, but also the loss of John, our beloved president of Southern Bears. With talks of postponing or even ending the event, the future of ABF hung in the balance. Fortunately, Casey stepped in to carry the torch, and the team decided to push through the difficulties. Little did we know, ABF22 would go on to become one of the most successful events in its history.

ABF is entirely run by a dedicated group of volunteers who pour our hearts and time into making the event a success. Despite facing numerous challenges, the team pushes forward, hosting the event with the same passion as if it were our last. And every year, the event continues to thrive, thanks in large part to the unwavering support of the community.

The core of ABF is its people. As the team often says, “...it's because of people like you that we do this.” This event isn’t just about a weekend of fun; it’s about creating a space where friendships are formed, memories are made, and a sense of family is built. ABF is also a charity event. Through the generosity of our attendees, ABF has been able to donate more than $80,000 to local causes such as PALS, Dog Days Rescue, Rainbow House, and Lost n Found.

As ABF looks toward the future, the Planning Committee expresses our deep gratitude for everyone who has contributed to the event’s success. Thank you for creating this unique, loving, and supportive family. We can’t wait to see you at ABF 2026.

Regards,
ABF Planning Committee
8/1/2025