The world of puppetry is making its way to Salt Lake City once again. Some of the nation’s best creators and performers will share their talent in a two-day event to celebrate an art form that predates theatrical acting itself.

The Great Arizona Puppet Theater is headlining the Salt Lake City Main Library’s annual No Strings Attached Puppet Festival. This two-day event features the comical production of The Three Little Kittens: A Mewsical as well as puppet and set-building workshops free to all teens and adults. The festival boasts an impressive roster of performers including “The String Man” Freddie Spencer and Utah State University’s associate professor Dennis Hassan (pictured), who will share his marionette-making expertise.

Those reserved about the level of entertainment they might get from mere puppets should be reminded that the creativity within this profession has intensified in recent years. Watching string-controlled productions of eggs hatching into full-grown dinosaurs, mayonnaise-craving monsters or British chickens should definitely strike up your interest. Even the Salt Lake City Main Library’s own Whizgiggle Puppets will perform an eccentric show involving a talking melon, crime-fighting dogs, mischievous children, and a pizza. And, if your imagination somehow still isn’t captured by such intriguing weirdness, you can be certain that children in attendance will be having more than enough fun for the both of you.

No Strings Attached Puppet Festival @ Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, 801-524-8200, March 13-14, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. slcpl.org