People pose for photographs as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Refugee Day at Big Cottonwood Park on Friday, June 21, 2024. Kids play with soap bubbles as they join the celebration for the 20th anniversary of World Refugee Day at Big Cottonwood Park on Friday, June 21, 2024.
World Refugee Day is an annual celebration that features the diverse refugee communities in Utah. The event includes food trucks, water slides and concerts that showcase the different cultures. This year’s two-day event, held on Friday and Saturday, celebrated its 20th anniversary. Kljajo was a refugee himself when he first landed in Utah at about 15 years old. His family sought safety away from their home in Bosnia, which was wrought by a civil war. Mario didn’t speak a word of English.
“I saw the Jamaican truck and you never find Jamaican food really anywhere in Salt Lake,” 32-year-old Collin Madisen said. “This little one even likes it a little bit too,” he said while smiling at his 18-month-old daughter.