Spellebration, the Roaring Fork Valley’s annual adult spelling bee with proceeds benefiting adult learners at Literacy Outreach, will mark its 30th anniversary with the theme “Under the LiteraSea” on April 5 at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs.
In an event press release, Literacy Outreach Executive Director Martha Fredendall said, “It’s the most fun you can have spelling. People love it because it’s an opportunity to let your inner nerd shine.”
Founded in 1986, Literacy Outreach, a Glenwood Springs-based nonprofit, is a nationally accredited program for adults to learn basic literacy skills, including reading, writing, math and conversational English.
Recalling the fundraiser’s origins, Jenny Zetah, a long-time Spellebration participant and Literacy Outreach volunteer, recalled that about 30 years ago she, Fredendall and the then-executive director went to a literacy spelling competition to see how it was done. “Then we tweaked it and brought our own back to Glenwood Springs, and we’ve been doing it ever since,” she said.
Event co-host and emcee Bruce Leland got involved with Spellebration about 17 years ago when he and his wife, Eileen, participated as spellers on a team sponsored by the 100 Club — composed of outdoor enthusiasts over 50 who, according to their Facebook page, with tongue-in-cheek, refer to themselves as “a drinking club with a hiking problem.”
About six years ago, “I decided I’d like to help with the actual performance part of the event,” Leland shared. On stage, he and co-host Steve Shute move the festivities along by telling corny jokes — many of them “groaners” — to which Leland wholeheartedly admits, “We do some ad-libbing, too.” All of the folly adds to the charm and fun of Spellebration.
Over its three-decade history, Leland said the number of spellers (in teams of three people) has grown yearly, and costumes have become more elaborate and play a significant role in incorporating puns. For instance, during a pirate-themed year, Leland recounted, “We wore shirts with the pi symbol, hats with rat heads on them and carried carob beans. So, we were the ‘Pi-rats of the Carob Bean.’”
Leland recalled the efforts taken to keep the event going during the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting the event online for two years.
“It was challenging for all of us. We were crowded into the Literacy Outreach offices, signaling to one another and passing notes around. So, what we did online looked a lot more seamless than it actually was,” he said with a chuckle.
In 2023, they gathered in person once again at the Hotel Colorado. “We did lose some faithful participants when we couldn’t do it the usual way because a big part of it is being there in person with the costumes and the whole atmosphere,” Leland explained.
The method for the spelling rounds has changed over time. Before, a single speller from each team would stand at a microphone in the center of the room. “It was nerve-wracking. Now, we’re using laptops to spell every word and tallying the most correctly spelled words by the end of the evening,” Zetah clarified.
Zetah, who has spent years teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in local schools and in East Africa, said, “Literacy Outreach has helped so many people be a part of the community and gives them those basic literacy and financial skills.”
“I think those of us who like words just get a kick out of it,” Zetah said.
“All of this is to help Literacy Outreach. And that’s the whole point: to have fun and raise money for Literacy Outreach, which performs a very valuable service for Garfield County,” Leland concluded.
Doors open at 5:30pm on April 5, and spelling starts at 6pm. In addition to a friendly-spirited spelling competition, the event offers a silent auction, food and a cash bar. A couple of local businesses have offered to sponsor teams of spellers by covering their registration fees. For more information about Spellebration, visit www.tinyurl.com/Spellebration For more information about Literacy Outreach, visit literacyoutreach.org