NATCHEZ &8212; The tourism department did its part to save Christmas, and now it is depending on the community to do the rest.

The group organizing this year&8217;s Christmas parade is seeking float, truck, walking and riding entries.

Tourism Director Walter Tipton said the parade committee will be sending out letters in the next few weeks soliciting entries. Letters will go to past participants and others from a list the group creates. But everyone is invited to participate, he said, letter or not.

&8220;Given the fact that there is a little more interest in it, I think (the total entries) may be up this year,&8221; Tipton said.

Last month, the Natchez Downtown Development Authority announced it would not sponsor the Christmas parade, as it has in years past.

Without the organizing force, the parade&8217;s existence was questionable until tourism stepped in.

Tipton&8217;s group met Monday night to pin down some details and discuss plans. Representatives from several local Krewes attended. The public works department and the coast guard also expressed interest in having floats, Tipton said.

The deadline to sign up to be in the parade is Dec. 1. Applications and more information are available by calling the Convention Center at 601-442-5880.

Some restrictions on size and type of floats do exist.

The theme of the parade is &8220;The Christmas Child in You.&8221;

Tipton encouraged any group &8212; especially those with young children &8212; to organize a parade entry.

&8220;We are contacting all the schools,&8221; he said. &8220;But anybody that&8217;s got a club or a band, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Ruriteens, anybody.&8221;

Entry fees for non-profits are $10; for-profit organizations will have to pay $20.

The parade will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.

That&8217;s a time Tipton considers perfect, he said.

&8220;It&8217;s after church, but before the later in the evening church events,&8221; he said.