Miss-Lou residents spotted a new character in town Friday.

Whether driving through town, receiving their mail or even getting their hair cut, many residents caught a glimpse of the jolly red-suited character.

Santa came to town a little early this year, prepping for the upcoming holiday.

In Natchez, he was spotted cutting hair at Anruss Salon and Spa on Commerce Street.

“We wrote a letter to Santa and asked Santa to come,” receptionist Bonnie Kyzar said.

Cosmetologist Lisa Rayborn said this was an unusual event for the salon.

“I’ve been here 22 years, and this is the first year I’ve seen him,” Rayborn said. “But we’ve been good this year.”

Rayborn’s daughter, Morgan Rayborn, also a cosmetologist, said she was excited he was at the shop.

“I sat in Santa’s lap for the first time in years,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Santa Claus was seen at a Vidalia intersection collecting donations for the charity Feed the Hungry.

“It was Santa and Mayor Hyram Copeland and Concordia Bank,” Vidalia resident Susan Windham said.

Vidalia Postmaster Danny Grayson said he saw the jolly old elf, too.

“He was out front collecting for Feed the Hungry,” Grayson said.

“I don’t remember seeing him out there before this year.”

Between collecting for charity and cutting hair, Santa could be seen at the Natchez Mall taking requests for gifts.

Everyone from tiny babies to full-grown women sat on Santa’s lap to tell him their Christmas wishes and have their pictures taken.

Seth Burns, a 6-year-old, said he told Santa he wanted a four-wheeler.

But Santa made no promises.

“He just said, ‘Oh,’” Seth said.

Sister Mikaila Burns, 12, said she didn’t ask for toys.

“I asked to re-do my room in pink and brown polka dots and stripes,” Mikaila said.

Some children may have thought they were too old to sit on Santa’s lap, but they still came up and asked him shyly for special Christmas gifts.

Adults joined in the fun, too.

Chauncy Watson took his son Jamarion Ross, nearly one year old, to see Santa for the very first time Friday.

“This is his first Christmas,” Watson said. “This way he can always look back and say he was a big boy and sat on Santa’s lap all by himself.”

He could also be seen delivering packages to houses in a Natchez mail truck, filling in for postal carrier Frank Patti.

Jennifer Delaughter, who works at Grace Cleaners II on Homochitto Street, received a hug from Santa while he was delivering mail.

“It was a total surprise to me,” Delaughter said.

“I was totally shocked. It was cool, though.”

St. Nick sightings will likely continue until Christmas, when the head elf himself will make his rounds to deliver toys to good little girls and boys.

Until then, children and adults alike should keep their eyes peeled for the man in red.