Ben Hillyer/The Natchez Democrat — While most children wanted to sit in Santa Claus’ lap Monday evening at the “Christmas at Co-Lin” event Monday evening, Annabella Laird preferred talking to Mrs. Claus, after all you can see Santa Claus all around town, Laird said. The holiday event on the Co-Lin Natchez campus was the first place the 5-year-old had seen Santa’s wife.

Four-year-old Bella Blalock peers out from underneath her Santa hat Monday evening to catch a glimpse at the man in red. The frequency of big guy sightings is expected to increase in the coming weeks.