NATCHEZ — More than 300 people will be eagerly waiting early Saturday morning outside Bowie’s Tavern.

But since it’s a bit early for a drink, these folks won’t be trying to get in just yet.

Instead, they’ll be on-hand for the 33rd annual River City Run for the Kids, which is set to kick off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Up first will be 10K run/5K walk, followed by the one-mile fun run at 9:30 a.m.

Volunteer organization Junior Auxiliary of Natchez is hosting the event, and Race Director Natalie Navarro said she has approximately 300 people pre-registered for the event so far.

“People can register the day of, and we usually have about 50 to 75 people register that morning, so we figure to have (approximately) 350 participate this year,” Navarro said.

That number is up from last year, Navarro said.

“We’ve done a few different things to advertise, and this year we have online registration, so I think that helped make it more accessible for people to register,” she said.

Navarro said the race is Junior Auxiliary’s biggest fundraiser, and all proceeds will go to the organization’s various local projects.

“We do whatever we can to help with whatever the community needs,” she said. “If we hear there’s a family in need, or if someone’s house burns down, we do what we can do help.”

Navarro said the organization works with West Primary School a lot, and also works with Sunshine Shelter, Camp Sunshine, Angel Tree and Operation Back to School.

The allure of Natchez is one of the main reasons Navarro thinks people come back every year, she said.

“A lot of them come in town for the weekend,” Navarro said. “It’s a nice getaway for people that are from the surrounding areas, like Jackson or the Gulf Coast.

“Hopefully this weekend we’ll have nice weather. A lot of people are willing to participate to help the locals of a small town.”