Four letters: F-R-E-E. This Saturday, Sept. 12, Chico State will host the world music festival and admission is free. It will be a great day to relax and enjoy the universal language of music. Music genres will range from ska, indie-hop, to urban rock. This event will take place outside of Laxson Auditorium.

From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., local Jamaican-ska band Boss 501 will perform on the Laxson stage, then again at Sycamore stage from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Chris Zinna, keyboardist for Boss 501, is looking forward to the festival.

“It feels great to participate in this great community event,” he said. “We have been lucky enough to play school functions like Eco Fest, Wild Oak Chico Music Fest in 2009 and 2011, International Fest and many more. We just love performing for our community.”

The variety of different music genres is highly visible at this event. Diversity at Chico State is crucial in understanding the elements to create unity, and this festival certainly demonstrates that.

Kátia Moraes, who is also performing, said that musical diversity is important.

”Being in touch with different cultures creates tolerance,” Moraes said. “It also introduces you to different ways of looking at life. I find it inspiring.”

Catch Katia’s performance at the Laxson stage from noon to 1 p.m.

Children are encouraged to participate. There will be a stage dedicated to children featuring creative dancers, storytellers, a choir, a theatrical play and folkloric dancers for entertainment, as well as arts and crafts where they can create masks, clay creations, puppets, bracelets and more.

Don’t miss out on this free event.

Valeria Flores can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.