Altars Festival Opening Ceremony: Community Walk + Talk

Join us for the opening ceremony of Altars Festival 2025 with a walk of ancestral remembrance and connection.

We’ll gather at the historic 17th Street Farmers Market and journey together to the sacred grounds of Lumpkin’s J*il and the African Burial Ground — sites that hold generations of history and resilience.

Led by festival founder Barrett Holmes Pitner and other special guests, this guided walk + talk invites us to honor ancestors, reflect on the stories that shape Richmond, and open the festival in a spirit of reverence and collective hope.

“The Altars Festival is about building sustainable community through remembering the past. By truthfully acknowledging our history and engaging in acts of remembrance that express our cultures, cope with the trauma of loss, and forge new cultural bonds, we can create a healthier American culture and alter our society for the better.” — Barrett Holmes Pitner, Festival Founder

This event is in partnership with Pollinators for Change — a movement for sustainable change powered by love and community. They are grounded in the belief that everyone has parts to play in the making of sustainable futures.

"This gathering serves as the welcome event for the Altars Festival, creating a bridge between Richmond's ancestral history and our responsibilities + determination for collective action today. This gathering is imagined as an experience where community leaders break bread, walk through Richmond's history, and reflect on our parts to play at this inflection point in history." - Mike Rabin, Pollinators for Change

All ages are welcome. Comfortable shoes recommended.

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To learn more about Altars Festival, visit: www.altarsfestival.com

Altars Festival is produced by The Sustainable Culture Lab and The Mamou Group.

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Host or Publisher Altar America Project