By Gabrielle Terrett

The Vicksburg Post

Santa is checking his list twice this year and one of his first stops will be here in Vicksburg.

The Vicksburg Convention Center will be hosting its 16th annual Breakfast with Santa Dec.9 at 8 a.m.

The theme of this year’s breakfast is Candyland, and the breakfast will resemble the sweet feeling of Christmas. Children will have the opportunity to play Candyland-themed games, take pictures, and of course have breakfast with the jolly old Saint Nick.

With more than 600 children participating each year, preregistration is strongly encouraged. Parents can go to the Vicksburg Convention Center at 1600 Mulberry Street to register or simply purchase tickets online at ticketmaster.com.

Tickets purchased before the event are $7 and tickets bought at the door will be $10, so be sure to purchase tickets early.

“We’ve had 600 children at one point,” said Sue Bagby, sales coordinator and special events director. “This year we expect to have about the same. We prepare for 700 children usually. We’ll have 300 children to come and the parents tend to come as well.”

The event will involve much more than a breakfast with Santa. With the purchase of a ticket children are also promised a professional picture with Santa.

“With the purchase of a ticket, children will have a chance to win a big bag of toys, have their photo taken with Santa and breakfast,” said Annette Kirklin, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention Center. “There will be different stations where they can play games and we will have a few characters walking around that the children can interact with. ”

Door prizes will be awarded and a raffle will be held during the annual event and a bag of toys, which is worth $1,000.

For more information call Sue Bagby at 601-630-2929.