BRISTOL — Accentuated against the gardens of Blithewold Mansion, the second annual Bodacious Bee — an adult spelling challenge to raise funds for the Kickemuit Education Foundation — was a scene of glittery wings, outlandish outfits and good-humored egos.

But, as silly as some of the participants looked, Friday night’s competition was fierce. As teams milled outside the dinner tent set up on the sloping lawn behind the mansion, spellers taunted each other while ABC news cameras rolled in the background.

“I predict we will win,” said Patrick Barry of the Fortune Spellers, wearing a gold lamé turban.

Some participants thought a whimsical attitude was the way to dominate.

“The folks who take it seriously don’t win,” Esther Trneny said. “We’re flying by the seat of our stingers.”

After the dinner concluded, master of ceremonies Tony Morettini, wearing a dark suit paired with red Converse sneakers, told the crowd they must keep the noise down — or else the police would cite the party for noise infractions.

“We can only have 15 decibels of fun — not 70 decibels — or there will be Speakouts,” he said.

Seated in the crowd was Superintendent of Schools Melinda Thies, school committee members, legislators and R.I. Education Commissioner Deborah Gist. Mr. Morettini commented on Ms. Gist’s celebrity status.

“She was named one of the most influential people in the world,” he said. “And, to be in Rhode Island and not be related to a judge or legislator is amazing.”

The speaker then took a couple steps toward Ms. Gist and lowered his voice. “You know, I got a ticket. I’ll talk to you later,” he joked.

And, then the competition was on. Three teams went up against each other per round; Stone Soup Spellers, The Worker Bees and Town of Bristol (made up of town councilors Kenny Marshall, Mary Parella and David Barboza) were up first. The town politicos didn’t make it past the first round after they misspelled the word “poinsettia.”

Representing the Town of Warren, The Warren Stingers, with Councilors Dave Frerichs, Cathie Tattrie and Chris Stanley, also didn’t get too far. They were knocked out during the first round.

“They are equally stupid, I mean ignorant, of the correct spelling,” said the emcee of the Bee-ach Road Crew and The Warren Stingers, who both failed to spell the word “jejunely.”

And, it wasn’t the only snarky comment of the night. After Bank of America’s team, the BAC Spellshalists, were given a pay-out to stay in the game, Bodacious Bee judge and investigative reporter Tim White said, “Didn’t we already give Bank of America a bailout?”

The crowd jeered. A little later in the game, pronouncer Kathryn Swanson recited the word “mustachio” accompanied by a customized definition. “There isn’t a mustachio in Bristol quite like Doug Gablinske’s,” said the pronouncer, prompting the local legislator to laugh along with the audience.

According to event Chairwoman Nancy Chace, the education foundation raised about $22,000 in net profits — far surpassing the original goal to make $15,000. And, though the Fortune Spellers did not come out on top as predicted, they did win the “Best Costume” award.

The champions, for the second straight year, were the Wicked Naturally Good Team, composed of team captain Christy Nadalin, Karen Binder and Fred Orwiler. The winning word was “stalactites,” meaning “a deposit of calcium carbonate resembling icicles hanging from the roof or sides of a cave.”

According to teammates, Ms. Binder knew how to spell the winning word because she took a trip spelunking, or exploring caves, in Kentucky over the summer.

“We enjoyed winning, of course,” said Ms. Nadalin, who also sits on the education foundation’s board, “but, overall it was a great night for the school department and foundation.”