Picayune Main Street will host a Health Fair to raise awareness about the importance of leading healthy lives.

Picayune’s first Nutrition and Health Fair is scheduled to take place during Health and Nutrition week. The event will be held at Picayune’s Jack Read Park in front of the pavilion on Thursday, Oct. 18, in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market. It will last from 9 a.m. until noon, said Picayune Main Street Manager Reba Beebe.

During the health fair, information on obesity and metabolic syndrome and chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease will be available to the public. Height, weight and body fat screenings also will be available in addition to blood pressure checks.

Sami Kennedy with Whole Health Connection will present a lecture on living a healthy lifestyle and conduct a cooking demonstration at 10 a.m., Beebe said.

Dr. John Braswell will speak about growing cool season gardens and a representative with Project Print will conduct hearing, speech and cognitive screenings.

Car seat safety checks will be conducted by Ginger Bennett and Theresa Milar of the Picayune Police Department. A plethora of other information on health issues also will be available at the Nutrition and Health Fair.

Bebee said Picayune Main Street hopes to conduct the health fairs twice a year in conjunction with the Farmer’s Market.

“I hope we have a great turnout,” Beebe said.