What to watch: National Petroleum Day will hold a free downtown celebration of the industry that powers Midland and the Permian Basin on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will be on Wall Street between Marienfeld Street and Pecos Street and will feature live music and entertainment, food trucks, local vendors, oilfield machinery displays, and fireworks to cap off the evening.

A separate, sold-out gala will also be held that evening at the Petroleum Club, featuring remarks by State Sen. Kevin Sparks, presentation of the Maverick Award to Jack Harper and the Heritage Award to Jim Woodcock, and a live auction benefiting the Midland Fire Department.

Why it matters: Aug. 27 is the anniversary of the first successful commercial oil well drilled in the United States by Edwin Drake in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859.

Midland’s top stories. One quick email. Free, every Friday.
Get Midland Wrapped, our free weekly email for busy Midland residents. Each Friday, we break down the week’s most important local stories — what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next — so you can stay informed without the noise.