The event was one of over 800 held at the same time in the U.S. and worldwide, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

“Night to Shine is an unforgettable worldwide celebration event, centered on God’s love, honoring and valuing people with special needs,” a description on the Tim Tebow Foundation’s website reads.

Tim Tebow, former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, founded the Tim Tebow Foundation in 2010 with the mission of helping people in need through faith, hope, and love.

In Alpena, honored guests with special needs and their families and caregivers lined up outside the E-Free Church Alpena Campus, located in the former All Saints School at 500 N. 2nd Ave. Once inside, they were treated to a complimentary special night full of activities and excitement, including a red carpet lined with a friendly crowd and “paparazzi” (cheering volunteers), hair and makeup stations, limousine and party bus rides, dancing to music played by a live DJ, dinner, a low-sensory room for breaks as needed, a balloon drop from the ceiling, and a crowning ceremony where each honored guest received a crown or tiara.

Courtesy Photo In this photo taken by Therese Shaw, honored guest Jeanne Teshka reacts with excitement as she walks the red carpet at Friday’s Night to Shine in Alpena.

Over 500 people attended the event, many dressed in formal wear and ready for a night of fancy fun. Over 160 honored guests attended, as well as 135 parents and caregivers, and 192 volunteers who helped make the night magical.

“We’re starting a church here in Alpena, and we knew that we should do Night to Shine because we would send buses over from Alpena to come to Gaylord,” said Brian Switalski, church administrator for E-Free Church in Gaylord, Alpena, and Sault Ste. Marie. “We thought we’d have 125 (honored guests). Over 160 is wonderful.”

He said the event is a great opportunity for Alpena area residents.

“This is the first time it’s happened in Alpena,” Switalski said. “We bussed people from Alpena to Gaylord, probably at least three or four years.”

Honored guest Kristen Syma attended the event with her parents, Tom and Lisa Syma, from Alpena.

Courtesy Photo In this photo taken by Therese Shaw, colorful balloons drop from the ceiling onto the dance floor full of honored guests, family members, and caregivers after the crowning ceremony at Friday’s Night to Shine. Each honored guest received a crown or tiara to help celebrate the evening.

“We’re excited that it’s local,” Lisa Syma said.

Switalski said the night is special for both honored guests and their families and caregivers.

“That’s exactly why the Tim Tebow Foundation does this,” he said. “Because so many of our friends, our special guests, they never got to experience prom or homecoming, or things like that.”

Chelsea Watson, Toby Shaw, and Switalski co-directed Night to Shine in Alpena.

Watson explained that when the guests came in, they received a corsage or boutonniere, and then they had their portraits taken. At the end of the night, they could take their portraits home in a frame.

Courtesy Photo In this photo taken by Therese Shaw, honored guest Shannon Sherrill-Mix enjoys a walk down the red carpet surrounded by cheering volunteers, or "paparazzi."

“That’s always something that’s a highlight of the night,” Watson said.

She said the guests really get the royal treatment at Night to Shine.

“It is like a prom, but we try to elevate it to, like, a ball,” Watson said. “A little step up from a prom.”

Night to Shine sponsors who helped make the event a success include: Pepsi, HPC Credit Union, Wolverine State Credit Union, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Lovely Little Lettering Co., State Farm Insurance Agent T.J. Hoes, LEVY, Biggby Coffee, Thunder Baykery, Celeste Lovely Photography, If It Ain’t Bokeh Don’t Fix It, Udell Event Rental, Omega Electric and Sign Co., SRM Concrete, Kiwanis Club of Gaylord, Wellspring, and Three to Me Balloons, L.L.C. Garth on the Go provided the limousine services.

For more information about Night to Shine, visit timtebowfoundation.org/night-to-shine.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Honored guest Kristen Syma, center, and parents Lisa Syma, left, and Tom Syma, enjoy the festivities at Night to Shine on Friday night in Alpena.

E-Free Church in Alpena is affiliated with E-Free Church in Gaylord. E-Free Church bought the former All Saints School building in May 2024. Their official church launch will be April 13 this year, according to Watson. For more information, visit E-Free Church — Alpena Campus on Facebook.

Courtesy Photo In this photo taken by Therese Shaw, a crowd full of honored guests, family members, and caregivers dance the night away at Friday's Night to Shine in Alpena.