NATCHEZ — Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium will be filled with royalty Friday night.

Not only will a new Mr. and Miss Natchez High be recognized for 2012, but nine former Miss Natchez High winners will be at the Bulldogs’ homecoming contest against Forest Hill and will take part in the homecoming festivities.

“This is special, because it gives those nine people an opportunity to reminisce,” Natchez athletic director Fred Butcher said. “They will have the chance to bring their kids back to see where they went to school.”

Butcher said this new feature to the homecoming festivities just adds to the annual event that has become as big as the game itself.

“Homecoming is always important,” he said. “It gives former students the opportunity to come back and reminisce of the times they had in school. More importantly it allows alumni to come back, and (current) students can see how successful Natchez High graduates have been. Also, one of the rewards of being a teacher is you get to see students come back and see that they are doing well.”

Butcher said the success of the Natchez football team so far this season will create a buzz for the alumni this year, and he expects a good crowd Friday night.

The Natchez alumni are a great help to the athletic department, and they help by donating money and time to Bulldog sports, Butcher said.

The annual homecoming parade will begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday on the Bluff, and Butcher said there would be a new addition to this year’s parade.

“We are adding classic cars for the parade,” he said. “Anyone with classic cars that are all original, or close to the original, can participate. We’d like to invite people with those cars to take part in the parade.”

Butcher said the entire school is abuzz with homecoming spirit, and he compares the festivities to holiday preparation.

“Homecoming is kind of like Thanksgiving and graduation is like Christmas,” Butcher said. “The kids are excited, and their behavior should be commended.”

Coronation for Mr. and Miss Natchez High will be 7 p.m. Thursday. The football game will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday.