The Mountain Spelling Bee is a zany, adult spelling competition that helps The Literacy Center (TLC) earn the funds it needs to provide literacy and language classes and tutoring throughout the year to adults in the Flagstaff community who have trouble reading and writing. Each year, Flagstaff businesses and individuals partner with TLC to sponsor this exciting evening and to help hundreds of adults gain the literacy skills they need to improve their lives.

At the Bee, fifteen teams of three adults each (with one Designated Speller each) go head to head as they try to correctly spell the hardest words in the English language.

Bee dinner guests are more than just spectators. Our often costumed, non-spelling audience members get downright rambunctious as they cheer on their favorite teams. Dinner guests also get to compete for prizes with games like Audience Spell and Heads or Tails.

Anyone who’s ever been to a Mountain Spelling Bee will agree that outlandish words, delicious dinner, cash bar, silent auction and lots of audience participation spell…

“u-n-B-E-E-t-a-b-l-e — f-u-n.”