The sounds of vintage engines, classic “ahooga” horns and modern high-performance vehicles filled downtown Winnsboro Saturday as the annual Autumn Trails car parade brought more than 100 vehicles and crowds of spectators to the streets. For more than six decades, Winners of the beard and mustache contest at Winnsboro’s Autumn Trails celebration Saturday, Oct. 24, gather with Autumn Trails royalty. Pictured in the back row, from left, are “Scarecrow,” mustache division winner; Grant Ewert, goatee division winner; and Jackie Young, beard division winner. In front, from left, are Londynn Brown-Truett, Kinslee Torres and Rownan Parton. (Monitor photo by Carley Tucker) Jackie Young shows off his plaque after taking first place in the beard division of the Autumn Trails beard and mustache contest Saturday, Oct. 24, in Winnsboro. (Monitor photo by Carley Tucker) Journi Vail, community ambassador for the Winnsboro Chamber of Commerce, rides in a blue Ford T-bucket hot rod during the Autumn Trails Antique Auto Parade. Vail was crowned Queen Autumn Trails LXV in October 2024. (Monitor photo by Tom Rice) Chana Gail Willis and Model A Club President Tex Willis ride in his 1929 Ford Model A pickup during Winnsboro’s annual Autumn Trails Antique Auto Parade. The truck is known locally as the “Willis Model A Service” truck. (Monitor photo by Tom Rice) Parade participants tossed Following his retirement from the military in 2011, Willis took over leadership antique cars have been a part of the Autumn Trails tradition. The local antique car parade dates to the 1960s, when the Autumn Trails Model A Club helped establish what has become one of the area’s longstanding fall events. Club President David “Tex” Willis said the club was founded by his father shortly before he was born. of the club from his father. Since then, the organization has grown into a regional club with members from surrounding communities, including Sulphur Springs, Van, Quitman, Alba and Emory. Saturday’s parade took place under sunny skies and mild temperatures, drawing spectators who lined downtown streets to watch the procession. The parade featured more than 100 vehicles, including approximately 45 classic Model A Fords. Other antique vehicles representing different eras of automotive history joined the lineup, along with modern high-performance cars and trucks. candy to children along the route as the vehicles entered Winnsboro from the west and traveled around the historic Bowery shopping and entertainment district. The annual parade continues a tradition that brings antique car enthusiasts and spectators together during Winnsboro’s Autumn Trails celebration.