Stretch limousines began arriving at The Eufaula Community Culture Church at about 5:15 p.m. Friday.

Special guests, dressed to the nines in their finest attire, emerged from the black limos as the high school band and a line of pom pom girls greeted them with all the pomp and circumstance befitting celebrities.

And for this night, the guests were celebrities.

It was their night to shine. “This is our fifth year of Night to Shine,” Junie McKinney said. “We’re growing every year.”

This year 90 special guests attended the gala event hosted by The Eufaula Community Culture Church, coming from McIntosh County, Weleetka, Wetumka, McAlester, Stigler and other nearby areas.

More than 180 volunteers made the evening possible.

“That doesn’t include the band and pom pom girls,” McKinney said.

The guests first gathered at the Community Center, where they were pampered and treated like royalty.

Then they stepped into the limousines and were driven a block or two to the church, where they walked a red carpet lined with well-wishers who cheered them on.

After stopping for photographs by the paparazzi, the guests entered

the church where they dined and danced the night away – at least until 9 p.m.

At the end of the night each guest was crowned King or Queen of the Prom.

“This is important because this is how they are viewed by God!” McKinney said.

Night to Shine is a worldwide movement with over 700 host churches around the world.

Several local churches partner to make the event a night to remember.

The Tim Tebow Foundation started the Night to Shine event in 2015 to celebrate those with special needs and give dignity to people who are often overlooked. Since then, the event has occurred every year, celebrating over 100,000 people annually.