Natchez — Bradley Harrison is giving gifts a different way this year. Harrison has been sending hundreds of gifts from his UPS store all season, but today he will help Santa hand them out.

“I guess I am kind of Santa on another front,” Harrison said. “I am a UPS Santa.”

Each year the Santa Claus Committee drives through town making several stops and handing out gifts.

Harrison has been involved in the parade for 30 years, and has always dreamed of being Santa.

“When I was in high school I worked at Ulman’s Department Store and I would watch the parade from the store. I looked forward to it every year and I was finally asked to ride,” Harrison said. “I had so much fun I said ‘I have to do this every year,’ plus it is a good thing.”

On December 3, the Santa Claus committee nominated Harrison to lead the parade through Natchez. For someone who has never missed a ride, it was an honorable moment.

“This has been such a big honor,” Harrison said. “I always hoped one day I would be Santa.”

Harrison has personal stakes in the parade as well. He is on the board of directors for the Natchez Children’s Home and is a supporter of the Christmas Tree Fund.

“The parade is the funnest thing I do all year, and it is the best thing I do all year,” Harrison said.

Harrison has been deeply involved in the parade since the age of 19. Harrison also traveled from Baton Rouge to Natchez just for the parade and the parties.

This year in celebration of being named “Santa,” some of his family members will join him in the procession.

“Everybody has a good time,” Harrison said. “We don’t stop laughing for seven hours.”

The parade will begin at 8 a.m. today in the Mt. Carmel subdivision and Santa will hand out gifts at Braden School at 11:30 a.m.