PHOTOS: 2025-The Year in Photos-Jerilee Bennett

The sun sets over the ‚”Blossom of Lights” at the Denver Botanical Gardens on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. The gardens are celebrating their 40th anniversary of the light show. The event will continue through January 11 and will be closed on Christmas Day. Tickets can be bought online for timed entrances. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A vigil was held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C. The vigil was held on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. U.S. Figure Skating is located in Colorado Springs. ((The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Young skaters Callan Rahardja and Rivkah Chavez-Herrera (left to right) comfort each other after a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C. Both skaters are members of the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs and had attended the same development camp in Wichita that the victims from which the victims were returning. USA Figure Skating is located in Colorado. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A vigil was held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C. The vigil was held on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Rachel Amaru, co-lead of the Boulder Run for Their Lives Chapter (left), walks arms in arm with a man with bandaged legs and arm, who asked not to be named, during a the Run for Their Lives walk to show resilience and solidarity in the face of the June 1 antisemitic terror attack on the Pearl Street Mall. They were walking in Boulder in the same location on Sunday, June 8, 2025.. The walk has been held every week in cities around the country to make sure that the hostages in Gaza, that were taken on Oct. 7, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Security with high powered guns are seen on a building top on Pearl Street Mall, as Sam King waves an Israeli flag during a program after the Run For Their Lives walk. They walked in the same location as last week along the Pearl Street Mall on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Last weeks walk ended with a man using makeshift molotov cocktails to set the peaceful protesters on fire. The walk has been held every week in cities around the country to make sure that the hostages in Gaza, that were taken on Oct. 7, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A peaceful counterprotester, who said he was Jewish, gets into an argument with a participant for the Run For Their Lives walk on the Pearl Street Mall. They walked in the same location as last week along the Pearl Street Mall on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Last weeks walk ended with a man using makeshift molotov cocktails to set the peaceful protesters on fire. The walk has been held every week in cities around the country to make sure that the hostages in Gaza, that were taken on Oct. 7, 2025, are not forgotten. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Joe Koncilja’s Neon Alley in Pueblo is the free attraction that has swept social media and brought people from afar to this historic corner of his hometown. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Fifteen-month-old Aurora Sandoval’s mother, Marissa Sandoval, leans back to capture the moment that her daughter feeds a giraffe for the first time during Boo at the Zoo at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. Tickets must be brought online to reserve a time and the event is sold out, except there are still reservations for Halloween night. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Balloon pilot J.J. Mancini lets children touch his inflating balloon with an open hand at the Labor Day Lift Off on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. The balloons weren’t able to launch on Saturday and not all flew on Sunday, but enough to delight the thousands who got up before dawn to be there. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Padraig Harrington hits onto the 18th green on his way to winning the 2025 U.S. Senior Open Championship at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Sunday, June 29, 2025. He finished with a score of -11. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Two of the three orphaned bear cubs that were released into the backcountry of Teller County by Colorado Parks & Wildlife make their escape from a crate on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. The three bears were recovered in a Broadmoor area neighborhood in southwest Colorado Springs in July. A total of five cubs were released at two different locations. Until Thursday, the cubs were living CPW’s Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility until they were ready for release. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

After three bear cubs were released in the backcountry of Teller County, they immediately headed for one of the tallest pines and climbed to the top on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. Two of them peak out from the branches. The three bears were recovered in a Broadmoor area neighborhood in southwest Colorado Springs in July. A total of five cubs were released at two different locations. Until Thursday, the cubs were living CPW’s Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility until they were ready for release. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A red-tailed hawk flies off with his dinner, a fairly good sized rabbit, near the Discovery Canyon High School on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Cripple Creek donkeys Hershey and Deckers tussle for a red ball in their pasture in Cripple Creek on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Two Mile High Club, which has cared for the town’s herd since 1931, is leading a “Healthy Herd Campaign” to educate visitors about proper feeding habits to keep the donkeys healthy. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A puffin on the cliffs of Saltee Island off the coast of Ireland in May 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Karen the emu gets up close and personal to the camera at Warriors Roost in Ellicott on Thursday, July 27, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A new service dog named Elway was introduced at the game and wasn’t quite sure what to do with the tv cameras. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is chased by former Broncos great Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) and outruns Miller in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2024. The Broncos lost the game 31-7. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Towards the end of the game, Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton looks up at the scoreboard in the wild card playoff game at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. The Broncos lost 31-7. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

After their practice, members of the Texas A&M basketball team walk the basketball floor of Ball Arena hand in hand while saying a prayer. Eight collegiate basketball teams are in Denver for the first and second round of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament to determine the national champion. Texas A&M will play Yale tomorrow at 5:25 P.M. There will be four games in the first round on Thursday and the four winners will play Saturday at Ball Arena to see who goes to the next round. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) hangs on the goal after dunking the ball during the second quarter of game 7 against the Clippers in the first round of the Western Conference Championship on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Ball Arena.(The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

The crowd goes crazy after Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) hits a three-pointer in the 4th quarter to tie the game and send it into overtime of game 3 of round 2 of the Western Conference Championship at Ball Arena on Friday, May 9, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Nuggets Tim Hardaway, Jr. wrestles with the Rockets Kevin Durant during a game at Ball Arena in November 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (19) catches a lateral pass from Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) during the 2nd quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman (92) (third from left) is celebrated by his teammates after an interception at the Denver nine yard line during the 4th quarter of a game at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is greeted by jubilant fans that were treated to a dominant performance by the Broncos against the Bengals on Monday night football. The Broncos won the game 28-3. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz (3) (right) gets jumped on by teammates Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (82) and Denver Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw (16) celebrate his 4th field goal that won the game for the Broncos on the last play of the game. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 22-19 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz (3) was getting plenty of hugs, including from Denver Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw (16) as he celebrates his five field goals that won the game for the Broncos on the last play of the game. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 22-19 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers (98) during the first quarter of a game against the Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (29) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the 4th quarter. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 22-19 at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Starting him young at a game against the Cowboys at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Pikes Peak Marathon winner Jonathan Aziz celebrates with his wife, Tara Aziz, and 3-month old daughter Roslyn Aziz after winning the Pikes Peak Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Mitchell High School student John Bail-Lopez looks over at Garden of the Gods as pilot Tom LaValley takes him for a flight on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The Falcon AeroLab took students from Mitchell and Doherty High Schools on flights and some got to try their hand at flying the plane. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Graduating cadet Matthew Kleczynski does a selfie with his family that came from New Jersey to cheer for him during the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Around 900 cadets graduated at the Academy on Thursday in rainy, gloomy weather. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Graduating cadet Alaynee Hawley tries her hat onto to her little sister, Azaylea Hawley, after the Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium on Thursday, May 29, 2025.

Viet Nam vet Moses Hendricks visits the grave of his wife, Beverly Hendricks, after the Memorial Day service at the Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Monday, May 26, 2025. Hendricks, who is a Bronze Star recipient, spends just about every Sunday at his wife’s grave, where someday he will be buried with her. Veterans and their spouses have the option of being buried in the same plot at the cemetery.

Hermann Beeh walks around inside the walls of his castle in Woodland Park while heading to his beautiful courtyard in Woodland Park on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

A disabled vet in a wheelchair looks over at brand new pairs of shoes that are free in a stand down at Weidner Field for homeless vets. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

The crowd claps along with music being performed at the “All Peoples’ Breakfast” held at the Antlters Hotel on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Afterwards, a shortened march was held, because of dangerously low temperatures. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Changing Fall leave colors illuminates trees as bicycles pass over a foot bridge in the Patty Jewett area. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

Santa Claus is welcomed by children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado for their annual Christmas party at the house on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. Santa was given a ride and escorted to the party by firetrucks from the CSFD. He had special presents for each child and their siblings. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)

The nightly Mile High Drone Show on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, ended with a tribute towards the year ahead for Colorado. While our country is celebrating its 250th birthday, Colorado is celebrating their 150th birthday. For 41 nights, the Mile High Drone Show has been lighting up the Denver skyline with a free show featuring 600 drones. The last night to see the show Is New Year’s Eve. The drones fly just west of downtown and the photo was taken from a parking garage west of the Tivoli Quad with I-25 at the bottom of the photo. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)