PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Area Arts Council invites children ages six through seventeen to stir up a batch of new skills and talents at the second annual Kids International Cooking School set for Saturday, Feb. 28 at the SOMC Friends Center on 18th Street in Portsmouth.

This fun family event will offer kids the opportunity to make simple dishes from countries around the world and learn other valuable food-related lessons in five different sessions conducted by master chefs, local restaurant owners and other experts.

A custom made cook book, various handouts, and door prizes will be available to the young cooks who attend.

The 10 a.m. to noon session is planned for children from six to eleven years old while ages twelve through seventeen are encouraged to participate in afternoon workshops from 1 – 3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased for $10 per person and at Market Street Café, 212 Market St., Hatti Beasly’s on Kinney’s Lane, The Warf, 2828 Gallia St., and the main branch of the Portsmouth Public Library or by phoning the Portsmouth Area Arts Council office at (740) 351-3642.

All children ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Tickets are not required for adults unless they intend to participate in the cooking instruction. This event is sponsored by PAAC, the Southern Ohio Medical Center and the Portsmouth Library as a fundraising effort for PAAC.

“Last year’s event was a huge success and we had many parents and children ask if we could please do it again,” said DeLynn Coppoletti, PAAC Executive Director.

“This year we are expanding the number of tickets and raising the age of the participants,” said Coppoletti. “We will also have more door prizes and a new mystery chef from a local restaurant”.

Tickets are limited and were sold out last year, so those wishing to attend are advised to purchase tickets promptly. Tickets will not be available at the door.

All proceeds from the cooking school will go to the PAAC’s Outreach Fund which is used to bring live performances to area schools that are financially unable to send classes to a PAAC-sponsored performance at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.

For more information about the Kids’ International Cooking School please contact DeLynn Coppoletti at (740) 351-3642 or dcoppoletti@shawnee.edu.