UTICA — Utica Royalties will present its first-ever Talent Show from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Utica Center for Development, 726 Washington Ave.

“We wanted to open our doors to the community,” said Utica Royalties Founder/Director Hawa Peters. “It’s going to be a family-friendly show for the entire family. We are expecting the show to be fun and exciting.”

Admission is free and Peters said the Utica Royalties dancers will open and close the show with a dance number. Special emphasis will be made on the African heritage of the members of the Utica Royalties, she noted.

There will be free snacks and drinks available. Award certificates will be given to all who participate and winners in the talent show competition will get trophies.

Although the deadline for registration to perform in this show has passed, Peters said this talent show will be the first of many more to come.

Started by Peters in October 2021, Utica Royalties is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making a positive impact on area youth. The shows will provide a showcase for anyone in the community to come out and show their talents, Peters promised. They will also offer the opportunity for community members to learn more about Utica Royalties and what they do.

“We are doing the show so that the youth can have positive activities and they can express their talent and interest in a positive way,” Peters said. “We believe that youths should experience and view the community in a positive and influential way. We believe in the strength of self-love, self-motivation, high self-esteem and love for our community.”

For more information, call 315-224-5277, email uticaroyalties@gmail.com or find Utica Royalties on Facebook.