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Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi stands with guest speakers during the Provo's Women's Day luncheon in 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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Women converge inside the Provo Recreation Center during the Provo Women's Day luncheon in 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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The Provo Women's Day event in 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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Taylor Swift isn’t likely to make any stops in Utah in the immediate future, but her aura may be felt during Provo’s 10th annual Women’s Day celebration to be held on Saturday at the Provo Recreation Center, starting at 10 a.m.

The event aligns with International Women’s Day, which is observed each year on March 8.

The day is considered a chance for women and girls around the world to take a stand in the push for equal gender rights and opportunities.

This year’s event in Provo marks a decade of honoring the achievements of influential women in the community who strive to make a difference in the lives of their fellow citizens.

In the spirit of Swift, this year’s theme is inspired by her 2008, and recently re-recorded, album “Fearless.”

“Women’s Day is a time to honor the contributions of the incredible women in our community,” Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said in a press release. “This year’s theme, Fearless, reminds us of the courage and resilience of women who push boundaries, overcome challenges, and inspire those around them. We are excited to recognize and celebrate these women who make Provo a better place every day.”

The day-long celebration will feature a bevy of activities throughout the day including fitness, pilates and yoga classes, a journaling workshop and an after-party dubbed “Provo’s version of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour” in the evening.

Organizers say the Women’s Day luncheon sets the tone for the day with keynote speakers highlighting the achievements of local women and providing a space for connection, empowerment and celebration.

Kaye Nelson, co-founder and executive director of Conserve Utah Valley, will be presented this year’s Trailblazer Award.

Such a large-scale event requires a lot of time, effort and people to pull it off, which makes for a great hands-on learning experience for future event planners.

Local students in Utah Valley University’s Advanced Event Production class were afforded the opportunity to work with the Provo Recreation Center and the mayor’s office in assisting with various aspects of Provo Women’s Day, creating a seamless and impactful event, according the release.

Students in the course helped with marketing, logistics and event coordination.

Their responsibilities include promoting the event through social media and community outreach, coordinating venue setup and décor, managing event flow and assisting with behind-the-scenes operations to keep everything running according to plan.

UVU student Keila Herrmann called the experience rewarding.

“Being part of Provo Women’s Day has been an incredible hands-on learning experience for our class,” she said. “It’s exciting to apply what we’ve learned in event production to a real-world event that celebrates and empowers women in our community.”

Added professor Jessica Ballard:

“Students are not only applying their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting but are also contributing to an event that celebrates and uplifts the women in their community.”

The Provo Recreation Center is located at 320 W. 500 North.

The full list of activities and ticket information can be found on the city’s website https://www.provo.gov/1013/Provo-Womens-Day.