North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield has handled a lot of different roles over the years, from county supervisor to alderman, to overseeing Vicksburg’s public works departments.

Saturday he’ll handle another job, donning a red suit, putting on a white beard and red hat and playing Santa for the United Way of West Central Mississippi.

The board of Mayor and Aldermen Friday approved a series of requests from the United Way to hold a parade in two of the Vicksburg Housing Authority’s properties at Rolling Acres and Waltersville Estates.

Having Mayfield dressed as Santa was one of the requests on the list.

“This I want to see,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said after the vote. “We’ll be there.”

“They called me and asked me if I’d do it,” Mayfield said after the meeting, adding he played Santa last year at a United Way Christmas program for children.

The parade begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Rolling Acres, starting on Alcorn Drive and passing along Elizabeth Circle. It then moves to Waltersville Estates off North Washington Street. Besides Santa, the parade will feature police cars and fire trucks.

“We’re asking the people in Rolling Acres to line Alcorn Drive and Elizabeth Circle,” said Shannon Royal, United Way’s community impact and events coordinator. “People in Waltersville will stand on Tully Street, Walter Street and Kings Drive.”

United Way executive director Michele Connelly said the parade was Royal’s idea.

“I wanted to do something for the kids who couldn’t get downtown for the (Vicksburg) Christmas Parade or who wouldn’t have the chance to see Santa at the outlet mall,” Royal said. “The parade would give the children a chance to see Santa, and would put the city’s first responders in a positive light.

“We’ll throw treats to the kids, and we’ll give each one at the parade a book. We’ve learned three out of four children in our community do not have a book in their home. This way we can make sure they will have a book in their home.”