NATCHEZ — The Santa Claus parade Friday will not vary from past years, but that’s the charm of the holiday tradition, Natchez Santa Claus Committee co-chairman Johnny Byrne said.

Between 70 and 90 grown men will ride in a caravan with Santa as the grand finale, tossing candy to children and spreading holiday cheer just like their predecessors have since for 82 years since 1928.

“We try to keep it as close to tradition as we can,” Byrne said.

Many of the men in the Natchez Santa Claus Committee remember catching candy at the parade when they were young boys, he said.

Byrne said delivering gifts collected by the Christmas Tree Fund to needy children at Braden School Auditorium and singing carols at the Natchez Children’s Home are the biggest highlights of the Christmas eve event.

“It touches you and you get in the Christmas spirit and makes you appreciate things you have,” Byrne said.

He said it is also an event in itself to watch a large group of grown men caroling with children at the Children’s Home.

While the event is certainly plenty of fun, Byrne said many do not realize that the committee, which has 300-350 members and meets year-round, also raises money for charity each year.

The parade will begin at approximately 8:25 a.m. and will travel through town until approximately 11:15 when the committee will arrive at Braden to give out gifts.

The parade will begin at approximately 8:25 a.m. and will travel through town until approximately 11:15 when the committee will arrive at Braden to give out gifts.

The parade route will travel through the Oakland, Brooklyn, Brookfield, Montebello, Eastbrook and Westover subdivisions before the first stop at 9:15 a.m. on Homochitto Street.

The parade will resume at 9:45 and hit the Dunkerron and Highland subdivisions before the second stop at a private gathering at Beau Pré Country Club.

From there, at 10:45 a.m., the parade will go through the Trees and Fatherland subdivision in route to Braden to give out gifts.

After all the gifts are handed out the parade will travel to the Natchez Convention Center for lunch for the committee. After lunch, at 1 p.m., the convoy will continue to the Natchez Children’s Home where Santa and the children will sing songs before proceeding to the fifth stop on Orleans Street.

At 2:40 p.m. the parade will start its last leg traveling through Oakhurst and Roselawn subdivisions before ending on Glenwood Drive at approximately 3:10 p.m..

All times on the route are approximate.

After the parade, the committee will congregate at Natchez’s own North pole, or the house of the reigning Santa, for a party and celebration.