LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s “Poetry Out Loud” competition for student poets will take place at the Soper Reese Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The competition will begin at 2 p.m.

It will feature competitors from high schools around the county. Winners at this event will go on to compete at the state level.

The public is invited to attend; entry is free of charge.

The event is supported and promoted by the Lake County Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation and the California Arts Council.

Poetry Out Loud is national program intended to help students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage and compete for college scholarship funding.

Millions of high school students participate across the country with California as one of the largest.

Students begin with poetry recitations at the classroom level. Classroom winners advance to a schoolwide competition and each school’s champion competes at the county level.

Winners of the Jan. 26 Lake County competition advance to the state finals to be held March 10 and 11 in Sacramento. The National Finals will be held in Washington D.C, from April 30 through May 1.

Check out www.poetryoutloud.org for more information.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport and can be reached at 707-263-0577.