The afternoon of May 31 will be an exciting day of competitive linguistic challenges replete with the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat for spellers at least 50 years old. This year Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Levy Senior Center and Evanston Public Library are hosting the State of Illinois Senior Spelling Bee Competition. In 2013, a local participant went to the regionals and then the state finals in Springfield. Surely another Evanstonian will do that this year.

Librarian Barbara Levie will be the “Pronouncer.”

Registration for this free event began April 21 at cityofevanston.org/register or in person at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St.; or the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.

The Senior Spelling Bee competition will be held at 2 p.m. on May 31 at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.