Ailani Irizarry, 2, delights in a flurry of bubbles along Monument Avenue during the Easter on Parade celebration Sunday, April 20.

Mayor Danny Avula, Councilwoman Nicole Jones and others gather at Broad Rock Sports Complex on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, to launch Southside ReLeaf’s Cool the City campaign. This citywide initiative aims to improve health outcomes, promote community wealth and enhance climate resilience throughout Richmond, with a particular focus on South Side. Over the next five years, the collaborative project will invest in greening efforts, workforce development and building institutional capacity to provide equitable access to green spaces.

The crowd that filled Monument Avenue on April 20 wasn’t there to protest, but to celebrate the return of Easter on Parade.

Erin Klich participates in the longtime bonnet contest tradition.

Jonathan Austin brings back his juggling act with flaming torches on a unicycle.

Lexi, 3, Mia, 4 and Liam, 5 together enjoy all the kid-friendly fun.

Roses in bloom on South Side

During the Science Museum of Virginia’s Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 19, Vivi, 10, and her sister Nalani, 7, learned how ocean acidification — caused by increased carbon dioxide levels — harms marine ecosystems.

Jasmine Johnson of the City of Richmond’s Office of Sustainability shared information about RVAgreen 2050, the city’s plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Julian, 6, of Pennsylvania, learns about Richmond’s native wildlife from Aimee Bushman, park ranger supervisor with the James River Park System, during the Science Museum of Virginia’s Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 19. The event, held at the Gottwald Center behind the museum, featured family-friendly activities centered on sustainability, natural resources and environmental science.