It's that time of year - the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade is back. The annual festive event will take place this Saturday, and several street closures and no-parking zones will be in effect.

The parade will begin at 10:15 a.m. at the Science Museum of Virginia and proceed east on Broad Street toward North 10th Street. More than 100,000 spectators from across Virginia are expected to attend, according to parade organizers.

To accommodate this event:

• No Parking zones along the route will go into effect at 3 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, and remain in place until 2 p.m. 

• Road closures will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, and will reopen at 2 p.m.

For towing inquiries, please contact Seibert's Towing at (804) 233-5757.

The Richmond Police Department encourages attendees to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

Richmond, VA - Ahead of inclement weather conditions, all City of Richmond buildings will be closed on Friday, Dec. 5. Some City services will be available virtually. 

Residents should visit go.rva.gov/winter-weather for the latest updates and follow the City of Richmond's social media channels for updates on City operations. For more information on weather conditions, please monitor reliable sources such as the National Weather Service.  

Inclement Weather Shelters 

To protect and shelter Richmond's most vulnerable residents, the City's Inclement Weather Shelter, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue and operated by the Salvation Army, will continue operations based on the weather.  

Richmond Ready Alerts 

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts to receive critical emergency and weather alerts from the City of Richmond. Residents can text 'RVAREADY' to 888-777 to receive a sign-up link or visit rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts to learn more.

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The city of Richmond's Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response sustains citizen trust by providing reliable emergency preparedness management and communications services in a timely and efficient manner. DECPR is designated as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the City of Richmond's E-911 telephone system and is charged with the appropriate routing of all E-911 and non-emergency calls for service. The department is also responsible for the coordination of all emergency radio and telephone communications for public safety agencies in the City of Richmond.

La Ciudad de Richmond cerrará ante el mal tiempo

Richmond, VA - En preparación ante las condiciones meteorológicas adversas pronosticadas, todas las oficinas e instalaciones de la ciudad de Richmond estarán cerradas el viernes 5 de diciembre. Algunos servicios municipales estarán disponibles de forma virtual.

Los habitantes deben visitar go.rva.gov/winter-weather para ver las últimas actualizaciones y seguir los canales de redes sociales de la Ciudad de Richmond para mantenerse informados sobre las operaciones municipales. Para más información sobre las condiciones meteorológicas, por favor consulte fuentes fiables como el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional.

Refugios para el mal tiempo

Para proteger y albergar a los residentes más vulnerables de Richmond, el refugio de la ciudad para el mal tiempo, ubicado en el 1900 de Chamberlayne Avenue y administrado por Salvation Army, continuará operando debido a las condiciones climáticas.

Alertas de Richmond Ready

Animamos a los richmondeses a inscribirse en el sistema de alertas Richmond Ready para recibir avisos críticos durante emergencias y alertas meteorológicas de la Ciudad de Richmond. Los habitantes pueden enviar el mensaje 'RVAREADY' al número 888-777 para recibir un enlace de inscripción o visitar rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts para obtener más información.

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El Departamento de Comunicaciones, Preparación y Respuesta ante Emergencias (DECPR, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Ciudad de Richmond mantiene la confianza ciudadana proporcionando servicios fiables de gestión y comunicaciones de emergencia de manera oportuna y eficiente. DECPR está designado como el Punto de Respuesta de Seguridad Pública (PSAP) para el sistema telefónico E-911 de la ciudad de Richmond y está encargado de la dirección adecuada de todas las llamadas E-911 y no urgentes de servicio. El departamento también es responsable de la coordinación de todas las comunicaciones de emergencia por radio y teléfono para las agencias de seguridad pública en la ciudad de Richmond.

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities today announced the scale back of RVA Illuminates, scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2025 due to forecasted weather conditions that present safety concerns for attendees, performers, and event staff.

Parks and Recreation will still move forward with the official holiday lighting moment at Kanawha Plaza, which can be seen on WRIC 8 beginning at 5:45 pm. Community members are encouraged to tune in as we continue the tradition of welcoming the holiday season together, even if from home. Given the current forecast, the City has determined it is necessary to cancel the scheduled performances. 

“We know RVA Illuminates is a cherished tradition for families across our city, and this decision was not made lightly,” said Chris Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Our top priority is always the safety of Richmond residents, visitors, and staff. We’re grateful for the community’s understanding and look forward to celebrating the season in safer conditions.”

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, X, and Instagram or visit our website at www.rva.gov/parks-recreation. 

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the hiring of Ken Martinez as the new Director of Revenue Administration in the Department of Finance. A seasoned municipal finance professional with over 23 years of experience, Martinez brings deep expertise in revenue management, taxpayer service, and tax administration to the role.

Martinez has spent his career working across the full spectrum of revenue administration, from public-facing taxpayer service to auditing, enforcement, and policy development. Most recently, he served in audit and collection leadership roles with the Treasury Division at the City and County of Denver and other Colorado municipalities, where he developed innovative training programs and procedures that significantly increased productivity and streamlined operations.

Throughout his career, Martinez has demonstrated a talent for both technical excellence and operational efficiency. He led a high-productivity audit unit that collected nearly $150 million over a three-year period and managed processes for collecting property tax revenues of approximately $180 million annually. His approach emphasizes transparency and clear communication, he drafted tax ordinance sections, tax guides, and rules, and managed the external tax guidance revision process to ensure taxpayers could easily understand their obligations.

"Ken Martinez brings the unique experiences and expertise we need in order to continue strengthening revenue administration functions," said Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer. "I'm confident that Richmonders will benefit from his unshakeable demeanor, distinguished track record of effective revenue administration, and genuine commitment to white-glove customer service.

"We're excited to welcome Ken to our team," said Letitia Shelton, Director of Finance. "Revenue Administration touches every business and property owner in our city, and Ken's extensive experience in taxpayer service, collections, and compliance will help us serve our community more effectively. His collaborative approach and deep understanding of municipal finance will be invaluable as we continue improving our operations."

"I'm honored to join the City of Richmond and contribute to its financial health and stability," said Martinez. "Effective revenue administration is fundamental to delivering the services Richmonders deserve, and I look forward to the opportunity of serving the residents along with the rest of the City Finance team"

Martinez holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and an MBA with honors from Western New Mexico University.

Martinez's first day with the City of Richmond will be December 15.