NATCHEZ — Today, Ricky Warren joins a long line of men who don green each year on St. Patrick’s Day for a special Natchez celebration.

Warren, a lifelong Natchez resident, was chosen to serve as St. Patrick XXVI by the Krewe of Killarney, and will lead the annual walking today on Main Street.

“It’s a real honor, and it’s been a lot of fun,” Warren said. “With all the men who have been St. Patrick before me, I feel like I am part of royalty.”

Although he has “very little, if any” Irish heritage, Warren said the parade is more about honoring the history of the Irish in Natchez.

“And anyone can be Irish for a day,” he said. “When I am St. Patrick, I try to throw in an Irish accent, but it’s hard when you’re a Southern boy like me.”

As important as honoring Natchez’s Irish roots are the charitable contributions the krewe makes to local organizations in the name of St. Patrick, Warren said.

The Krewe of Killarney raises money each year for Pleasant Acre Day School, Holy Family Early Learning Center and awards scholarships each year to one senior at each area high school.

In addition to his charitable work with Killarney, Warren volunteers with the Special Olympics and Pro-Life Natchez-Adams County. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, a Foster Mound volunteer firefighter, an Adams County Search and Rescue volunteer and scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 168.

Lineup for the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of Memorial Park.

The parade will travel down Main Street, before ending at the gazebo bandstand on the bluff, where St. Patrick will perform the traditional banishing of snakes.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade revelers are encouraged to wear green attire.

Receptions will follow the parade at Bowie’s Tavern and The Natchez Grand Hotel.