NATCHEZ &8212; It&8217;s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And for Natchez, that means the Santa Claus Committee has chosen someone to play St. Nick and hand out toys to needy children.

This year, Steve Plauch/ will soon be donning the red suit and carrying a bag of toys.

Being named Natchez&8217; Santa Claus was a big surprise, he said.

&8220;I was a little overwhelmed and quite pleased,&8221; Plauch/ said. &8220;This is my 21st year of living in Natchez, and as we all know, that means I&8217;m still a Natchez newcomer,&8221; he joked.

Plauch/ became involved in the Santa Claus Committee soon after he moved to Natchez.

The committee, started in 1928, began when a small group of businessmen became concerned that all the children in the area would not have a merry Christmas. So, for 78 years, the committee has supported local charities.

Each year, a group of more than 300 participate in a ritual, traveling through town and stopping at Braden School where a Santa Claus distributes gifts to needy children.

&8220;Steven Guido was the one who actually explained what the Santa Claus Committee was to me when I was first in town,&8221; he said. &8220;That was how I got started with it.&8221;

Every year, the committee, including past Santas, selects a new representative to fill the role of Santa and hand out toys. The committee works closely with the Christmas Tree Fund to give needy children a happier holiday.

Plauch/ has been involved with local children&8217;s charities, including acting as chairman of the chili cook-off, which benefits the Natchez Children&8217;s Home, for several years in the 1990s.

So playing Santa will not be a stretch, he is honored to be part of the group of Santas of years past.

&8220;It was quite flattering,&8221; he said. &8220;It&8217;s really an honor to be involved with those who worried about less fortunate people in Natchez. And I will always be a former Santa Claus from now on.&8221;

Plauch/ said he was a little nervous about his new role, but that he was looking forward to it.

&8220;I think it will change the way I and my family feel about Christmas forever to be involved with it on this level,&8221; he said.

Saturday&8217;s Santa Claus parade route:

7:30 a.m.: Meet at Elk&8217;s Club, Lower Woodville Road.

8 a.m. Leave Elk&8217;s Club to pick up Santa

8:15 a.m. Pick up Santa at home of Steve and Liza Plauch/ 498 Park Place.

8:30 a.m. Leave with Santa and entourage begins. Travel to N. to Mt. Carmel, Oakland, Brooklyn, Brookfield, Montebello, Eastbrook and Westover subdivisions.

9:30 a.m. First stop: Michael and Eugenie Cates 207 S. Wall St., invited guests only.

Proceed to Dunkerron, Highland, The Trees and Fatherland Subdivisions.

10:40 a.m. Second stop: John and Valerie Bergeron 310 S. Pearl St.

11:15 a.m. Braden School auditorium &045; Children&8217;s Christmas Tree.

12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch at the Natchez Convention Center.

1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. Natchez Children&8217;s Home 806 N. Union St. Santa to entertain.

2:10 p.m. Third stop: Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Harrison, 708 Orleans St. &045; invited guests only.

2:40 p.m. Oakhurst, Roselawn and Glenwood subdivisions.

3:10 p.m. Fourth stop &045; Kevin and April Colbert 214 Glenwood Drive &045; invited guests only.