Bird in a bush (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian)

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond-The stage is set for Virginia’s 75th governor, Abigail Spanberger, who will be sworn in Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. Fencing and security measures have been installed outside the Capitol since late October. The event is open to the public, but a ticket lottery has been implemented due to limited seating. Lottery registration is available at spanbergerinauguration.com. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

Kwanzaa festival elevates African heritage-Stilt walkers pay tribute to ancestors during the annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival at the Richmond Convention Center on Saturday, Dec. 27. Virginia’s largest Kwanzaa celebration brings together vibrant performances, hands-on workshops, children’s activities. The African Market and authentic cuisine—all honoring the holiday’s seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-Nanette Kenney of Henrico lights the candle on the Kinara representing the fourth Kwanzaa principle, Ujamaa, or cooperative economics, focused on building and maintaining Black businesses, as Janine Bell pours libation. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-Members of the Elegba Folklore Society perform a traditional dance at the annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in downtown Richmond on Saturday, Dec. 27. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-Members of the Elegba Folklore Society perform a traditional dance at the annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in downtown Richmond on Saturday, Dec. 27. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-Stilted performers honor ancestors at the annual Capital City Kwanzaa Festival presented by the Elegba Folklore Society. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-A crowded Ujamaa Market offered cultural merchandise throughout the day during the festival, which featured performances, workshops, children’s activities and African and Pan-African cuisine. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

Honoring heritage with community and celebration-AKahmen O’Neal, 2, colors a creation at Watoto Kwanzaa, where children make art and learn about the Kwanzaa celebration. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Van Tatum, a Carytown Kroger employee, restocks shelves with sparkling water — the last bottles remaining — after customers emptied the aisle on Jan. 7 within just two hours of Richmond’s boil water advisory. The alert came in the wake of a winter storm-related outage that knocked out a city water treatment facility. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Richmond Public Schools celebrated a major milestone at William Fox Elementary on Jan. 10 as the school’s cupola was ceremonially lifted into place. School Board members, elected officials and neighbors watched the dome go up in a two-hour operation that capped the building’s progress. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. The General Assembly marked the 40th anniversary of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder’s historic election as Virginia’s first Black lieutenant governor with a centeraisle ceremony in both the House and Senate chambers on Jan. 17, which was also Wilder’s 94th birthday.(photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Children wave Korean and American flags during a performance at the Asian American Festival at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on May 17.(photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Demonstrators participate in the No Kings march from Capitol Square to Kanawha Plaza in Richmond on June 14 and a separate Destroy ICE march that began and ended at Kanawha Plaza. (photo by Brian Palmer/brianpalmer.photos)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Hundreds attended the American Muslim Heritage Celebration and the Ayida exhibition at the Institute for Contemporary Art on the VCU campus on July 26. The event featured, henna, face painting, videos on the history of Islam in America, food and a salah, or prayer space. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Virginia Union running back Curtis Allen leaps over a defender to score a touchdown on Sept. 20 as the Panthers defeated Johnson C. Smith 28-10 in the Willard Bailey Classic at Hovey Field. (photo by James Haskins/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger celebrates with supporters during her election night event at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Nov. 4 after winning the race to become Virginia’s 75th governor. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. The Rev. Robert A. Winfree is honored with a street sign bearing his name at Ninth and Decatur streets in South Side. Hundreds filled the New Life Deliverance Tabernacle for the ceremony celebrating the senior pastor and church founder. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Khalil Harriot of the Shepherd Stealers defends Cameron Davis of the LWSRA Hawks during a Division II game at the National Wheelchair Basketball Adult Championships on April 11 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. “Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration” attendees finish the Trail of Enslaved Africans pilgrimage with a closing ceremony under the bridge linking Lumpkin’s Jail to the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground. The celebration was presented by the Elegba Folklore Society and the Well Collective. (photo by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. A recycling truck caught fire on Claremont Avenue in North Side on Aug. 28. The driver pulled over and emptied the truck’s contents onto the street. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the blaze was undetermined. (photo by Craig Belcher/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. A biker rides across the snow-covered Nickel Bridge on Feb. 19 as pedestrians and cyclists take advantage of the span’s closure during wintry weather. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Riders take a free fall on the Super Shot at the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell on Sept. 28. (photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)

A Year in Focus-From marches to milestones, Richmond’s people and events shaped the year. Demonstrations, school celebrations, cultural festivals and sports brought the community together across the city. These images capture the moments that marked 2025 in Richmond. Legend Agamah and his mother head into his first day of pre-K at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School on July 21. Oak Grove-Bellemeade is one of four Richmond Public Schools operating on a 200-day calendar.(photo by Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press)