Talent shows have become all the rage — think “America’s Got Talent,” “American Idol” and “The Voice.”

That’s well and good, but in our area, we already have plenty of talent to call our own. For the past nine years, audiences at the New London Talent Show have been seeing the proof, as youths from all over the region go onstage at the Garde Arts Center to showcase their abilities.

This year’s production is Saturday, and its theme is “Small City Big Dreams.” There will be a 6-year-old rapper (who is the child of a Season 1 participant), dancers doing genres ranging from interpretive to hip-hop, singers, rappers, spoken-word performers and much more. They have been guided by volunteer coaches who include both professionally trained musicians and folks who come from various local nonprofits and businesses.

The young participants hail from towns around the area, including Norwich, Groton, Ledyard and, of course, New London — more than ¾ of the performers live in the Whaling City.

This year’s show is run by Curtis K. Goodwin, who is co-founder and executive director of the event, and Frank Colmaneres, who is also a co-founder and is the marketing and talent director.

New London Talent Show IX, 7 p.m. Saturday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $15; (860) 444-7373.