NATCHEZ — The Natchez Christmas parade will be a little longer this year.

The parade route will start on Canal Street, turn right on Main Street, where it will proceed to Rankin Street, parade organizer Stratton Hall said.

The parade will then turn left onto Rankin Street and proceed to Franklin Street, where it will turn left and go until it ends on Broadway Street, Hall said.

“The reason for the changed parade route this year is the floats can’t make the turn at the Christmas tree (at Commerce Street) with its new base,” she said.

The winners of the parade float decorating contest will be announced at 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at the foot of the city Christmas tree, when the winners of the downtown window decorating contest will also be announced, Hall said.

Vershal Hogan