Picayune: Small town close to New Orleans

Picayune is nestled east of New Orleans and northwest of the Mississippi Coast. It offers a hometown atmosphere with the big city a short drive away. The City Hall area of town is adorned with armed forces memorials. Eliza Jane Poitevent Nicholson named the city after the newspaper she owned and published ­­the New Orleans Daily Picayune, now the Times­-Picayune.

Population: 10,749

Points of Interest

● Blues & Heritage Festival, Oct. 22, 2016, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., downtown historic area, Picayune, (601)  799‐3070

● Crosby Arboretum, 370 Ridge Rd., (601) 799‐2311

● Millbrook Country Club, 600 Country Club Road, (601) 798‐8711

● Highland Community Hospital, 130 Highland Parkway, (601) 358‐9400

● Picayune Municipal Airport, 148 Runway Road, (601) 798‐9770

● Lower Pearl River Valley Transportation Museum, 200 Mississippi 11 S., (601) 798‐3122,

● Picayune Main Street Street Fair, Nov. 5‐6, 2016, and April 1‐2, 2017, Downtown historic area, 601‐799‐3070

● Pine Tree Lanes, 426 Memorial Blvd., (601) 799‐2081

● Pontoon Bridge Battalion Memorial (and other military memorials and monuments), by City Hall, 203 Goodyear Blvd., (601) 798‐6271,

● Run with the Pigs, Oct. 28‐29, 2016, Crosby Commons, Picayune, 601‐798‐3122

● Friendship Park, 1701 South Haugh, (601) 799‐0602

● Christmas on the Rails “Shop by Candlelight,” Early December each year, downtown historic area, (601) 799‐3070

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Picayune: Small town close to New Orleans."