Spellers are meeting each other, signing Bee Keeper books and having a blast - whether it's their first time or their third.
Maritius Bautista, speller 262, is a third-time competitor who tore up the dance floor at the barbecue.
"I'm just having fun," he said.
Jack Miller, speller 120, is competing in his third bee - though he's been to two others as a spectator when his sister competed.
He's kept in touch with some speller friends throughout the year, and said it's nice to see everybody.
"Just being here is very exciting," he said.
It's the first time for Samuel Thomas, speller 166. He said it's been neat to see everything the bee has to offer. And Meryl Tigenoah, speller 286, got a picture with Screech, the Nationals' mascot.
"It's cool that we get to go to all this stuff. I didn't think it was going to be this big," she said. "I liked getting outside."
