Photo credit: Arts Council of Midland

What to know: The 42nd annual Celebration of the Arts (COA) returns May 15–17 at the Bush Convention Center, bringing a full weekend of art, music, and community events to downtown Midland hosted by the Arts Council of Midland.

The big picture: The weekend opens Friday night with the ticketed “Rock the Arts” premiere party.

On Saturday, you’ll find the free COA Family FUN Block Party along Texas Avenue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The space fills with food trucks, inflatable games, and live entertainment throughout the day. Performances include Youth and Wisdom, Christy Lewis & Alan Castillejos, and Leon Carrasco & Twice as Nice, along with Flamenco, Folklórico, and Mariachi groups from the Hispanic Cultural Center of Midland.

Inside the convention center, more than 50 visual artists will be set up across the venue. Visitors can move through displays featuring painting, photography, jewelry, and mixed media. In addition, interactive stations give people a chance to participate in activities such as balloon art, dried flower art, artist trading cards, and hands-on crafts.

On Sunday, a classic car show runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Texas Avenue. Later, Bingo Loco adds a different pace, with sessions at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. that combine music, prizes, and crowd interaction.