Curtains close on Merritone Family Fun Day

NY:

New York event organiser, Conroy Allison, recently announced that it is the end of the road for the annual Merritone Family Fun day NYC, the largest Caribbean Family Fun Day in the USA.

Allison said that the “significant changes” which came about after the passing of Winston ‘Merritone’ Blake in 2016 made it impossible to keep doing the event using the old template.

“After 22 successful years of hosting the Merritone Family Fun Day in New York and after consultation with my production team and sponsors, I feel the time has definitely come for us to move in a new direction,” he stated.

The 2022 event will now be rebranded as ‘Conroy Allison presents the Annual Tri-State Family Funfest’ and will take place on August 14 at Heckscher State Park, in New York.

Looking back at his working relationship with Blake, Allison said he only has great memories.

“Winston was the best! The very first promotion I did with him was a party at a nightclub in Brooklyn back in 1981. He played the music and whether it was beginner’s luck or the power of the Merritone brand, over 600 people turned up, completely selling out the venue. Over time, I developed a healthy respect for Winston’s ability to entertain, his work ethics and his absolute commitment to his craft,” Allison disclosed.

With the success of subsequent parties and boat rides, Blake suggested a bigger event that morphed into the annual ‘Merritone Family Fun Day’ in New York.

While the end of the Merritone Fun day in New York will leave a void among some diehard fans, Allison shared that he has some fresh ideas that will contribute to the success of the new event.

“We will have live entertainment for adults plus entertainment for the kids and the young at heart; let’s also remember we will have fantastic music for dancing. There will also be special attractions centred around Jamaica’s 60th year of independence. I am excited about this year’s event and I am promising it will be our best ever,” Allison said.