With a sluggish economy, with elected officials only concerned with rhetoric, and with overall change seeming distant, the idea of anything or anyone being truly “free” is becoming harder to wrap your head around. That’s why The Utah Arts Alliance will be throwing its own mini-festival aimed at celebrating and expanding freedom and empowering people with tools and information to create change within the community. And everything this evening is absolutely free.

That includes food selections from local restaurants (still to be determined at press time), fire-spinning courses from Incendiary Circus (with demos) and a slam-poetry elimination battle between five of Utah’s finest award-winning poets. In addition, you can enjoy music performed by local musicians Babble Rabbit, Pat Maine, Seth Walker, Lauren Begent, Grey Fiction, La Farsa and other bands to be named. Also on hand will be several nonprofit organizations, charity and resources centers, activist groups and others representing their causes and welcoming volunteers to help those in need.

Freedom Fest 2011 @ Utah Arts Alliance Gallery, 2191 S. 300 West, No. 1B, Jan. 14, 6-11:30 p.m, free.