BillyCon Draws Animatronic Enthusiasts to Barboursville

BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WOWK) — Over the weekend, Billy Bob’s Wonderland in Barboursville held the fifth annual Billy Convention, honoring the fanbase of the robotic music group, The Rock-afire Explosion.

Known colloquially as Rock-afire, this character gained widespread recognition through its presence at ShowBiz Pizza Place locations during the 1980s and 1990s.

As Chuck E. Cheese phased out its animatronic bands as part of a recent company transformation, the Rock-afire Explosion may now be the sole remaining group of its kind in the nation.

Music enthusiasts, lovers of animatronic figures, and followers of Billy Bob came together for a weekend filled with pizza, games, and enjoyment at "BillyCon."

A variety of individuals attended Billy Bob's on Sunday. Some had never been before, while others had been coming for five years, yet all were received warmly.

Even the staff members at Billy Bob’s Wonderland came with an established fondness for Rock-afire prior to joining the team.

I've wanted to work here for a few years before I finally began," said Audrey Vanoy, standing alongside two of her new colleagues. "So I was a huge fan.

Her colleague Emily Atkinson agreed.

"It was certainly well-known in our region," Atkinson mentioned.

Each of the three was raised in the Charleston-Huntington region and had extensive knowledge of Rock-afire.

A pair of lovers discovered their connection at the Billy Convention. Now, they have come back to relive the moment everything started.

"A year ago today, we met right here," a man using the nickname Juju Magumbo remarked as he held his girlfriend Ava Nuñez close.

Magumbo hails from Florida, whereas Nuñez comes from North Carolina. Without Billy Bob and Rock-afire, the two probably wouldn't have met.

"Since we've wanted to return," Magumbo stated.

Such tales are typical at Billy Con. The Rock-afire collective maintains a significant online footprint, making it simple for dedicated fans to stay connected.

They travel from all over to watch the special animatronics perform. People from the northern region also joined in on the Billy Con event.

A man named Josh stated, 'I traveled here from Canada to attend this event.' He added, 'I'm a huge fan of Rock-afire.'

Although this year's Billy Con has ended, the sixth edition of Billy Con will return to Billy Bob’s Wonderland next summer.

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