Started by the Tim Tebow foundation, the annual event gives attendees the opportunity to be crowned kings and queens of the prom.

FORT SMITH, Ark —  It’s everyone’s favorite night in the River Valley, Night to Shine in Fort Smith. 

The annual event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, allows attendees to be crowned kings and queens of the prom in a celebration of inclusion, joy, and community.

“Kings and queens are gonna show up, and they are going to be the special guests of honor tonight. They are the ones that we are celebrating. It’s all about them. They’re gonna come here, they’re gonna get the royal treatment. They’re going to get fancied up, and they get to do the hair and makeup or shine the shoes, and then they’re going to get crowned as our kings and queens,” said Chris Benjamin, the pastor at West Ark Church of Christ and Night to Shine’s biggest fan. 

In the prom-style event, the guests of honor get to spend the night doing whatever they want, riding in a limo, walking the red carpet, eating dinner, and, a fan favorite, karaoke. 

“Our friends with special needs, they live very different lives than we do, but their lives are just as precious, just as important, and just as purposeful, and on a night like tonight, all of the differences are evened out,” said Benjamin. 

It’s a special night for 418 kings and queens, but also the 440 volunteers. A lot of them also make the event a tradition. 

“I love to get to hang out with my sister. But aside from that, I just love the fun atmosphere,” said Rachel Snider, a volunteer who’s been coming to the event for 10 years. 

“People who don’t even normally come to church are here, and we’re come together with one common goal. And the goal is to make our special friends feel special, the kings and queens of the prom, which is just amazing,” Snider said.

Volunteers say the event is all about making people feel special. 

“We want them to feel like the absolute stars of the night, because that’s what they are. This is their night to shine. This is their moment,” said Aly Hobson, Miss Apple Blossom Teen, who spent her evening putting tiaras on the ladies. 

“We want that to be exemplified in everything we do as volunteers tonight, to highlight them and to show them you are the kings and queens tonight. You are the stars of the show. This is your time,” Hobson said.