What You Need To Know About Laurel, Mississippi

Ben and Erin Napier might be Laurel, Mississippi's "Home Town" heroes, but there is so much more to the town than its famous home renovations. Located in the Pine Belt hub of southern Mississippi, the town of Laurel has progressively transformed itself over time. With a little help from the successful HGTV shows, the Laurel natives have nurtured the old timber town back to a thriving, spirited community. 

Established in the late 19^th century, Laurel flourished for decades with its lumber mill and oil businesses, along with a railroad development that continues to run through the city. Following the town's gradual decline, the Napier's observed how their hometown was deteriorating, and they were inspired to reinvent it. Since the success of "Home Town" in 2016, the yellow pine capital of the world has received a lot of attention among its renovated neighborhoods and historic downtown streets. Thanks to a boom of new and revamped businesses, the area offers several attractions, including a vibrant nightlife that draws people to Laurel on any given weekend.

With many of its residences and businesses featured on "Home Town," the revamped town's popularity has grown tremendously within just a few years. Places like the renovated house turned eatery Bird Dog Café from Season 4 are worth a stop for lunch, coffee, or a cocktail. Another unique Napier transformation is Pearl's Diner from Season 2, a former jewelry store that features satisfying southern cooking from the garden to the kitchen. While many people flock to see Erin and Ben Napier's personal trades like Laurel Mercantile Co. and Scotsman General Store, there's an abundance of other places to visit that make Laurel a great all-around weekend destination.

Driven by community, the town and its surrounding areas regularly host a roster of fun, family-friendly activities, such as weekly farmer's markets, music festivals like Laurelpalooza and Loblolly, and an annual Christmas parade. While winter may showcase the town's annual chili cook-off, the spring brings the tide with outdoor vendors, art and rummage sales, and the Community Bank's Crawfest in April. Each May, the town hosts the A Day in the Park event, a decades-old tradition that features art competitions, a fun run, live music, and kids' activities with a focus on local crafts. With more visitors flooding in, Laurel has also seen a rise in Airbnb listings, including The Laurel Cottage and other bed and breakfast accommodations to choose from.

With endless activity and entertainment, Laurel is a hot weekend destination. According to Stay Home Style, spending two to three days there may deliver the finest experience. With many places closed on Sundays, the weekend activity typically kicks off on Thursdays, as it's best to get there early. A summertime favorite, Downtown Thursday is a community-centered night with an outdoor movie at the Backlot, and live music near Southern Antiques. 

From bakeries and restaurants to live music and shopping, Central Avenue is the place to be. For superb steak, seafood, and drinks, The Loft is a crowd-pleaser, as the place gets packed most every Friday and Saturday night. Lee's Coffee & Tea keeps a busy calendar with a monthly open mic night, including board games and play-your-own vinyl nights.

For art and history, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art on 5^th Avenue is an inspirational stop, showcasing various art, paintings, and collectibles from around the world. Additionally, Laurel Little Theatre offers a full roster of performance art and musical events to attend throughout the year. You can shop for home goods, furniture, and American-made products within a variety of stores, or browse antique and thrift stores like Laurel Leaf, The Remnant, and Peddler's Junktion. For a small town, Laurel packs it all in while providing its own hometown vibration.