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Artesia received 4.4 inches of rain over three days, bringing 2026 precipitation at the NMSU Agricultural Sciences Center to 11.6 inches. Eddy County remains under a flash flood watch through Saturday night as heavy rain continues across southeastern New Mexico. Despite the weather, the Red Dirt Black Gold Festival is still scheduled downtown Friday and Saturday, with VIP tickets available online.

The Artesia City Council delayed voting on proposed golf cart and recreational off-highway vehicle ordinances after residents questioned safety requirements and age limits, including an 18-year-old minimum for drivers and 12 for passengers. Councilors will continue discussions before a potential November vote. They also approved rezoning three lots near 13th Street and Hermosa Drive for apartments.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland campaigned in Carlsbad, calling for limits on oil drilling on public lands while supporting a sustainable energy future. She also discussed nuclear waste shipments to WIPP and proposed a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centers. Republican opponent Gregg Hull criticized Haaland over campaign donations from Oracle and Project Jupiter executives.

The Red Dirt Black Gold Festival returns to downtown Artesia with two days of live music, food trucks, vendors, craft beer and family activities. Friday features New Mexico Heritage Night, while Saturday brings country performers, a kids’ zone, oil field food cook-off and cornhole tournament. Tickets range from free youth admission to $50 VIP access.

Rain Thursday did not dampen Artesia residents’ spirits as students, staff, community leaders and Mayor Jeff Youtsey joined a 30-minute indoor walk at Zia Intermediate School.

Since 2017, Yarn United has brought Artesia residents together at the Artesia Public Library to crochet blankets, quilts and Worry Worms. The group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, sharing projects, techniques and yarn. For more information, contact the library at 575-746-4252.

The two days of rainfall also bring the possibility of flooding across the state, and significant rises in water levels in the Pecos River, Rio Felix and other rivers in southeast New Mexico that could meet or exceed their banks.

Time is near for the Red Dirt Black Gold Festival.

Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts in Alto announces its 2026–27 season, featuring Broadway comedy, classical music, timeless theatre, ballet, western swing and tribute concerts. Highlights include Menopause The Musical, The Nutcracker, Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight!, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, and tributes to Barry Manilow, Jimmy Buffett and John Denver. Tickets are available at spencertheater.com.

Haaland met with representatives from the group With Many Hands and staff with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) during her visit. It was part of "Deb’s Roadrunnin’ Tour," a three-day series of campaign stops in eight communities. Other stops in the tour that day included Carlsbad and Hobbs.

United Way of Eddy County’s ninth annual Day of Caring brought hundreds of volunteers together across Carlsbad, Artesia and Loving on Sept. 17.

The fifth annual Cavern City Renaissance Festival returns to Carlsbad Beach Sept. 25–26, transporting visitors to a world of knights, pirates, music, fire dancing and fantasy. Enjoy live performances, Festival Quest, themed foods including turkey legs and meat pies, plus local ales and mead. Tickets start at $22.18 for adults.