NATCHEZ &045; Santa found more than cookies and milk for breakfast when he guided his sleigh to the Main Street Marketplace Saturday morning.

Instead, jolly St. Nick shared a hearty holiday breakfast with kids young and old before checking to see who’s been naughty and nice.

&uot;Ho-ho-ho,&uot; Santa boomed, as he hugged eight-month-old James Wood and James’ 3-year-old cousin, Samuel Freiberger.

James’ parents, Robert and Elizabeth Wood, stood nearby, snapping pictures of the cheerful meeting next to a brightly decorated Christmas tree.

The scene was repeated throughout the morning as dozens of parents brought their kids to the market to see Santa and enjoy pancakes and biscuits.

Natchez native Kathryn White now lives in Jackson, but returned this weekend to visit relatives with her 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, who was also celebrating a birthday Saturday, was a little shy about greeting Santa.

&uot;She was a little scared at first, but her cousins encouraged her,&uot; White said.

Four-year-old Rossie Olinde proudly displayed a snapshot of himself sitting on Santa’s knee.

&uot;I got my picture took with Santa, and I’m not scared of him anymore,&uot; Rossie said.

Marketplace volunteer Regina Charboneau and Tammi Mullins of the Downtown Development Association coordinated Santa’s visit.

Charboneau, a chef, took an interest in the market when she returned to Natchez from California three years ago.

She sought to increase community involvement in the market by promoting produce in season and sponsoring year-round events such as Breakfast with Santa and the Gumbo Cook-off on the day after Thanksgiving.

Charboneau said expanding the purpose and vision of the market has helped the farmers sell more produce.

&uot;Now, when the farmers come here, they sell what they have because there are more people here,&uot; Charboneau said.