NATCHEZ — In Natchez, Santa Claus arrives a day early, not in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer, but in a convoy of cars.

The Santa Claus Parade, organized by the Santa Claus Committee, is a tradition that goes back to 1928. Now in its 87th year, Co-chair Johnny Byrne said the parade has become a Christmas Eve tradition.

“Pretty much everybody who grew up in this town grew up with this,” Byrne said.

Every year the Santa Claus Committee elects a Santa Claus stand-in, portrayed this year by Pat Sanguinetti, who travels around Natchez delivering candy and making stops.

In addition to the parade, the committee collects dues, which are donated to local charities. This year, the committee collected approximately $15,000, giving to organizations including the Natchez Children’s Home, the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society and Stewpot.

But the parade is the most visible part of the committee’s work, with Santa Claus making stops and spreading cheer. One of the stops is the Natchez Children’s Home, where everyone breaks out some old-fashioned carols.

Byrne said that when 150 grown men start caroling with the kids, he hasn’t seen a lot of dry eyes in the house.

“It goes to show you that people do have hearts and they enjoy spending time with these kids, and it’s a lot of fun,” Byrne said.

But the high point comes around 11:15 a.m. at the Braden School Auditorium for the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund distribution. At the stop children in need, identified by Catholic Charities and churches, are given toys by Santa himself.

“You just get to see the kids’ faces light up,” volunteer Johnny Junkin said. “They get to see Santa Claus.”

It’s a special moment, one that Byrne and Junkin both enjoy.

“It’ll put you in the Christmas spirit,” Junkin said.

The parade is planned to start by going through the Fatherland, Montebello, Eastbrook and Westover subdivisions around 8:30 a.m., making its first stop at 209 Arlington Ave., at 9:15 a.m. After that, the parade will go through the Dunkerron, Highland and The Trees subdivisions before stopping at 505 S. Commerce St., at approximately 10:25 a.m.

For its next stop, the convoy will travel through the Roselawn and Glenwood subdivisions to Braden for the 11:15 a.m. Children’s Christmas Tree Fund distribution. After a break for lunch, the parade will travel to the Natchez Children’s Home for a 1:15 p.m. celebration.

The next stop on the list is 160 Devereux Drive at 2:15 p.m. The parade will go through the Oakland, Brooklyn and Brookfield subdivisions before making its final stop at 27 Colony Drive at 3:10 p.m. for invited guests only.

If anyone wants to help with the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund, Junkin can be contacted at his office at 601-446-7991.