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Andrew Martz checks his tie at the check-in station while being escorted by Kana Hashigami of the Nags Head Police Department. Daryl Law photo

Braydon Adams was walking tall on the red carpet with Hallie at Night to Shine. Daryl Law photo

Seth Coalson arrives in style and was escorted inside the dance by Skyla Lamberto–Egan of Nags Head Fire Rescue. Daryl Law photo

Seth Coalson arrives in style and was escorted inside the dance by Skyla Lamberto–Egan of Nags Head Fire Rescue. Daryl Law photo

Braydon Adams gets crowned king by his friend Heather. Daryl Law photo

Jessica Channing, left, and her friends liven up the conga dance line at Night to Shine event held Friday. Daryl Law photo

Nags Head Fire Rescue Capt. W. Kidd escorts Zachary Nelson and Kelsey Byrd into the dance. Daryl Law photo

Seth Coalson shines brightly after he was crowned by friend Ayva Kromi. Daryl Law photo

Sweethearts Ed Dowd and Diamond Hanson enjoyed the dinner and dancing at Night to Shine, held inside the Outer Banks Family YMCA in Nags Head last Friday night. Daryl Law photo

Serving food to the guests, from left, are Leilia Fischer, Laura Fischer, Kimberly Whitehurst, Jacob Scheiden, Annette Lamm and Avery Harrison. They are all youth volunteers for The Church of the Outer Banks. Daryl Law photo

A crowd gathers in front of the stage while guests sing songs on the karaoke machine. Daryl Law photo

A gang of friends hang out in the "lounge" area inside the gym. Everyone enjoyed being dressed up and getting to cut loose a little. Daryl Law photo

Guest Walter Snyder was looking dapper in his red vest, hat and bowtie. Daryl Law photo

These super stars sparkled brightly as they strolled the red carpet into the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine festivities last Friday night at the Outer Banks Family YMCA in Nags Head.

Hosted by The Church of the Outer Banks, the flashy prom-like event drew 105 special needs guests and more than 200 volunteers. In general, the entire YMCA complex was packed.

Guests were greeted with cheers, sign-waving fans and plenty of “whoop, whoops!” It was a little overwhelming for Jonathon, who simply exclaimed loudly: “Holy crap!”

Everyone was quickly adorned with an official name badge as well as white rose corsages and boutonnieres by volunteer Shannon Glaser of Kill Devil Hills. Strands of bright-white star lights were zig-zagged overhead at the check in area of the building’s lobby.

With ceiling to floor gold shimmery streamers lining the walls, the “real stars” promenaded like Hollywood celebrities down more red carpet to the gym where the “paparazzi” flashed photos and the party began.

Loud tunes along with sculptures made with clusters of purple, gold and white balloons and a lighted 2025 sign set the festive mood. During the night, there was fellowship, dancing to trendy music and on-stage karaoke singers covering songs from love ballads to rock classics.

The evening officially got underway at 6:30 p.m. when event founder Tim Tebow and his wife welcomed everyone with a short video on a big screen next the stage. After that, all 105 participants were crowned king or queen by their respective companions for the night.

Pastor Jamie Smith, who was there greeting guests out front on the red carpet, was pleased with the spirit and love that filled the room that night.

“It was such an amazing evening of unconditional love of God,” he said Sunday after church. “Just a great night.”

Smith was touched by the way the community came together for the event.

“It has to do with caring for people,” he added. “Everyone being unified to serve with love.”

While his congregation exited on Sunday, it was evident that his flock is large and diverse. He’s proud of the things they do in the community – especially the Night to Shine.

“That’s one of the most important things we do all year as a church,” he noted.

Always held the Friday night before Valentine’s Day, Night to Shine 2025 was hosted by more than 800 churches across all 50 states and in 60 plus countries around the world, the foundation reported.

Also available to the guests was hair and makeup station, church bus rides with music, a sensory room, and gift bags upon departure.

In one of the most touching moments of the night, Zachary Nelson serenaded his girlfriend, Kelsey Byrd, with “God Gave Me You” by Blake Shelton. When he concluded, the couple, standing in front and center, shared a brief kiss. Owen Snowden rocked the house with the Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”

As the dance progressed, groups had their pictures taken at the photo booth or in the “lounge” area. The disc jockey kept busy rocking the room and before the night was over there was line dancing and a huge conga line.

While the merriment unfolded in the gym and dinner was served near the racquetball court, parents had their own oasis in the yoga studio. There, they could eat snacks and enjoy soft drinks while the guests had their uninhibited fun.

At around 8:30 p.m., the parents were allowed to enter the gym for the grand finale, which included a confetti shower.

Earlier, before the guests arrived, volunteers were provided with pizza and salad for dinner. Several veteran event volunteers and church members such as Della Gill of Southern Shores took a moment to relax before everyone started arriving. They had been busy prepping the parent room for quite a while.

During dinner with her friends Chris Cooper of Nags Head and Peggy Daniels of Kill Devil Hills, Gill explained what she remembered as the essence of these dances.

“The music goes up and the inhibitions go away,” she said.

“This is the third year I’ve helped in the parent room,” she said. “They can come in and enjoy the evening too.”

Cooper said the special needs crowd lights up like Christmas trees during this outing.

“You should see the sheer delight on their faces, dancing and doing karaoke,” she said.

The “kids” and assigned buddies thrive on independence for the two hours or so before their parents and other caregivers are permitted to go into the dance, Cooper said.

“It’s lovely!”

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