{{Short description|Annual My Little Pony fan convention}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox Convention | name = Ponyville Ciderfest | image = PVCF_Logo_2024.png | caption = Official logo for Ponyville Ciderfest 2024 | status = Active | genre = [[My Little Pony fan convention|''My Little Pony'' fan convention]] | venue = [[Hyatt Regency]] Milwaukee | location = [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] | country = [[United States]] | first = 7–9 November 2014 | last = 21–23 November 2025 | next = | organizer = Worthwhile Events NFP | filing = [[501(c)(3) non-profit organization]] | attendance = 994 in 2024 | website = https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/ }} {{My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic sidebar}} '''Ponyville Ciderfest''' (abbreviated '''PVCF''') is an annual [[My Little Pony fan convention|''My Little Pony'' fan convention]] held in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] organized for the [[fandom]] of the animated television series ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'', whose adult fans are commonly referred to as ''[[bronies]]''.
The most recent Ponyville Ciderfest took place 21–23 November 2025 at the [[Hyatt Regency]] Milwaukee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2025/11/22/ponyville-ciderfest-2025-draws-visitors-to-my-little-pony-convention/87424101007/|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2025 draws visitors to 'My Little Pony' convention|first=Jovanny|last=Hernandez|date=November 22, 2025|access-date=November 28, 2025|website=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2025/11/23/meet-7-my-little-pony-megafans-at-milwaukees-annual-convention/87418128007/|title=Meet 7 'My Little Pony' megafans who came to Milwaukee for the annual convention|website=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|first=Claudia|last=Levens|date=November 23, 2025|access-date=November 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmj4.com/news/milwaukee-tonight/who-are-bronies-inside-a-milwaukee-my-little-pony-convention|title=Who Are Bronies? Inside a Milwaukee My Little Pony Convention|first=James|last=Groh|date=November 21, 2025|access-date=November 28, 2025|website=[[TMJ4]]}}</ref>
== Overview == {{See also|My Little Pony fan convention}} Ponyville Ciderfest is an annual convention primarily dedicated to fans of the animated television show ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]'', particularly the adult fans known as ''[[bronies]]''. The event is organized by Worthwhile Events NFP, which also runs '''{{visanc|Whinny City Pony Con}}''' in Illinois and MLP-MSP F in Minnesota. The convention features a variety of activities including fan [[presentation|panels]], musical acts, guests from the show, [[vendors]], and a formal gala called the "Grand Galloping Gala". The event maintains a fully family-friendly environment until 8 PM each day, with dedicated kids programming. After 8 PM, panels may feature adult content. The convention operates both in-person and online; the con uses platforms like [[Discord]], [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]], and [[YouTube]] to reach fans who cannot attend physically by [[live streaming]] some of its events.<ref name="about" group="‡"/>
According to a report in local newspaper ''Wisconsin Life'', the three-day event brings in more than $500,000 to the city of Milwaukee. The convention draws attendees for its music events, including nightly dance parties, and vendors selling handmade merchandise such as [[T-shirts]], posters, and [[wood carvings]].<ref name="Hess-2019">{{cite web|url=https://wisconsinlife.org/story/friendship-rainbows-bronies-my-little-pony-convention-comes-to-milwaukee/|title=Friendship, Rainbows & Bronies: My Little Pony Convention Comes To Milwaukee|last=Hess|first=Corrinne|date=December 11, 2019|website=Wisconsin Life|access-date=2025-04-15}}</ref>
The inaugural convention in 2014 drew 829 attendees to the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee. The event collected donations for the [[Children's Hospital of Wisconsin]] and emphasized themes of "love, tolerance, and acceptance" that are central to the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/all-about-the-bronies-milwaukee-plays-host-to-states-inaugural-my-little-pony-convention|title="All about the Bronies!" Milwaukee plays host to state's inaugural "My Little Pony" convention|last=Handelman|first=Ben|date=November 9, 2014|website=[[WITI (TV)|FOX 6 Now Milwaukee]]|access-date=2025-04-15}}</ref> The first Ciderfest featured voice actors from the show including [[Andrea Libman]] (voice of [[Pinkie Pie]] and [[Fluttershy]]), Peter New (voice of Big Mac), Sam Vincent (voice of Flim), [[Michelle Creber]] (voice of Apple Bloom), Ingrid Nilson (voice of Maud Pie) and G.M. Berrow (author of "My Little Pony").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/mylittleponyfest|title=Weekend festival welcomes "My Little Pony" fans of all ages|last=Snyder|first=Molly|date=November 3, 2014|website=[[OnMilwaukee]]|access-date=2025-04-15}}</ref> The 2018 edition, which was the fifth year of the convention, was themed as a [[music festival]] celebrating the [[Music of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|music from the fandom]] and [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic discography|the show]]. It featured 58 guests and panelists, 39 music acts, and 41 vendors with over 170 events throughout the weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/ponyville-ciderfest-celebrates-the-magic-of-friendship/|title=Ponyville Ciderfest celebrates the "Magic of Friendship"|date=October 23, 2018|publisher=VISIT Milwaukee|website=[[Urban Milwaukee]]|access-date=2025-04-15}}</ref>
According to Cody Miller, the programming director for the convention, the event serves as "an escape from the daily grind" and a place for mutual support among fans. The convention showcases values central to the show such as harmony, generosity, laughter, and kindness. Miller notes that the convention challenges traditional [[gender stereotypes]], stating, "We get a lot of mixed messages about [[masculinity|what it means to be a man]]... It's very refreshing to have a group of people come together and say, 'No.' We want to be nice to each other, we want to have feelings."<ref name="Hess-2019"/>
In February 2022, Corgi Events LLC—the parent organization of Ponyville Ciderfest and Whinny City Pony Con as well as five [[furry conventions]]—collapsed amid financial troubles including an exorbitant tax warrant against its founder, unpaid staff compensation, and management issues. Tech Charlie, the convention chair of Ciderfest and Whinny City, initially stepped down due to the organizational turmoil. Michelle, Charlie's wife, purchased both conventions from the dissolving company and reinstated Charlie as chair of both events.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flayrah.com/8573/corgi-events-disband-after-staff-upheaval-following-sin-city-murr-cons-first-year|title=Corgi Events to disband after staff upheaval following Sin City Murr Con's first year|first=Tantroo|last=McNally|date=2022-02-15|access-date=2025-07-29|website=[[flayrah]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.equestriadaily.com/2022/02/corgi-events-may-have-collapsed-but.html|title=Corgi Events May have Collapsed, but Ponyville Ciderfest and Whinny City Pony Con Are Saved!|first=Shaun|last=Scotellaro|website=[[Equestria Daily]]|date=2022-02-12|access-date=2025-07-29}}</ref>
Like other brony conventions, Ponyville Ciderfest has established a [[Charity of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|tradition of charitable activities]]. From 2014 to 2016, the convention supported Extra Life 4 Kids, raising a total of $26,758.50. From 2017 to 2019, charity efforts benefited Generations Against Bullying, raising $72,999.08. Since 2021, the convention has supported the Wisconsin Humane Society, with the 2023 event raising $111,186.90. As of 2023, Ponyville Ciderfest has raised a total of $261,005.98.<ref name="about" group="‡"/>
==Locations, attendances, and charity efforts by year== {| class="wikitable" border="1" |- ! Year !! Dates !! Location !! Venue !! Attendance !! Charity !! Amount raised |- | 2014<ref name="conbook-2014" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PVCF14-Con-Book.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2014 Con Book|year=2014}}</ref> || November 7–9 || rowspan="6" | [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] || rowspan="6" | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee || 829 || Extra Life 4 Kids || $4,887.50<ref name="about" group="‡">{{cite web|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/about/|title=About Us & Archives|access-date=2025-08-29|website=Ponyville Ciderfest|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250829230523/https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/about/|archive-date=2025-08-29}}</ref> |- | 2015<ref name="conbook-2015" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PVCF15-Con-Book.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2015 Con Book|year=2015}}</ref> || November 20–22 || 1,135 || Extra Life 4 Kids || $11,871.00<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2016<ref name="conbook-2016" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CiderFestConBook2016-3.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2016 Con Book|year=2016}}</ref> || October 28–30 || 1,160 || Extra Life 4 Kids || $10,000.00<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2017<ref name="conbook-2017" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PVCF17-Con-Book-Final.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2017 Con Book|year=2017}}</ref> || October 20–22 || 1,064 || Generations Against Bullying || $21,771.00<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2018<ref name="conbook-2018" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2018-Ciderfest-Conbook.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2018 Con Book|year=2018}}</ref> || October 26–28 || 1,399 || Generations Against Bullying || $25,306.08<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2019<ref name="conbook-2019" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2019-Ciderfest-Conbook.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2019 Con Book|year=2019}}</ref> || November 1– 3 || 1,371 || Generations Against Bullying || $25,922.00<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2020 || colspan="6" {{N/A|''Online only due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]]''}} |- | 2021<ref name="conbook-2021" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2021-Ciderfest-Conbook.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2021 Con Book|year=2021}}</ref> || October 22–24 || rowspan="5" | [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]] || rowspan="3" | Hilton Milwaukee City Center || 822 || Wisconsin Humane Society || $16,955.00<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2022<ref name="conbook-2022" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PVCF22-Con-Book-Optimized.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2022 Con Book|year=2022}}</ref> || November 4–6 || 833 || Wisconsin Humane Society || $33,106.50<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2023<ref name="conbook-2023" group="‡">{{cite book|url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PVCF23-Con-Book-Final_Optimized.pdf|title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2023 Con Book|year=2023}}</ref> || November 17–19 || 1,064 || Wisconsin Humane Society || $111,186.90<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2024<ref group="‡">{{cite web |title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2024 |url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/ |access-date=9 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007155748/https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/ |archive-date=7 October 2024 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> || November 1–3 || rowspan="2" | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee || 994 || Wisconsin Humane Society || $31,420.69<ref name="about" group="‡"/> |- | 2025<ref group="‡">{{cite web |title=Ponyville Ciderfest 2025 |url=https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/ |access-date=9 July 2025}}</ref> || November 21–23 || TBA || TBA || TBA |}
== See also == * [[BronyCon]] * [[Everfree Northwest]] * [[TrotCon]] * [[My Little Pony fan convention|''My Little Pony'' fan convention]] * [[Charity of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom|Charity of the ''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic'' fandom]]
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Primary sources references section}}
[[Category:Fan conventions in the United States]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 2014]] [[Category:Brony fandom]] [[Category:2014 establishments in Wisconsin]] [[Category:My Little Pony conventions]]