HISTORY

1988 Uptown Friday Nights TM begins at the Cedar Rapids Ground Transportation Center. DJ’s were used to play music for the crowd each week.

1994 Uptown Friday Nights TM moves to 2nd Street SE and moves block to block between the avenues each week. DJ’s were still being used to play music for the crowd each week.

1997 Uptown Friday Nights TM moves to the cement pad of Greene Square Park.

June 27th, 1997 The Swing Crew is the first live band to play for the Cedar Rapids Jaycees and Uptown Friday Nights TM. This also marked the first time one thousand people attended one Uptown Friday Night TM.

1998 Uptown Friday Nights TM were moved onto the grass at Greene Square Park, with an all live band line up.

2001 The Large Midgets recorded the "Uptown Friday Night TM " theme song, which Mix 96.5 played during the Uptown promotions on air.

2001 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees decide to formally name the donation process of Uptown Friday Nights TM and decide on the name the Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM Dream Makers.

June 29th, 2001 The first time that attendance at one Uptown Friday Nights TM exceeds two thousand guests.

2001 A $10,000 donation was made in care of the Downtown District for the future renovation of Greene Square Park.

2001 Marked the first time Uptown Friday Nights TM is videotaped and rebroadcast throughout the year.

June 28th, 2002 The first time that attendance at one Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM exceeds three thousand guest to hear the sounds of The Large Midgets.

July 9th, 2004 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM Dream Makers reach $100,000 in donations back to the community.

June 17th, 2005 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM Dream Makers reach $150,000 in donations back to the community.

October 2005 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM Dream Makers donate $20,000 to Hurricane Katrina Red Cross Relief Efforts.

May 26th, 2006 A record opening night crowd as three thousand guests attend the Swing Crew show.

June 2nd, 2006 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees Uptown Friday Nights TM Dream Makers reach $200,000 in donations back to the community.

2007 Pro Video and the Cedar Rapids Jaycees join forces and go high tech. Three roaming cameras are used to collect footage of patrons and the bands in the park each week. The footage is compiled into a weekly highlight reel that is then web hosted for viewing as streaming video.

2007 Mix 96.5 Live @ 5, the Uptown Friday Nights TM Experience is launched. It brings live local music back to the airwaves each week as Mix 96.5 broadcast the first hour of Uptown Friday Nights.

2008 Severe flooding hits downtown Cedar Rapids and requires the Cedar Rapids Jaycees to postpone two weeks and move Uptown Friday Nights TM to Cabo Sports Bar and Grill for the remainder of the season.

August 2008 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees wrap up the Uptown Friday Nights TM season back in Greene Square Park.

2009 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees partner with several downtown businesses to promote the "Stay Downtown After Uptowns" campaign to encourage post flood economic recovery.

2012 The Cedar Rapids Jaycees partner with Capone's Restaurant and Hideaway Bar as a rainout location, to make sure the party doesn't stop just because of a little water.