By Mike Arcand
Winnsboro does not do fall halfway. Every weekend in October, the town puts on Autumn Trails, a month of parades, contests, rodeos, races, and old iron that has been drawing people to Wood County since 1958.
That first gathering was small. A few friends met on a cool, crisp October morning to ride horseback through the fall foliage. Those riders did not know it, but they started a tradition the town still carries on today. The horses and wagons are still part of it.
This year’s festival runs Saturday, October 3 through Sunday, October 25, with one more event on Halloween night. Here is how it breaks down.
Week One: October 3
Saturday, October 3, is a full day. The Tractor Show and Pull is at the Jack Cross Pavilion. Sign-in is at 8:00 a.m., with a drivers’ meeting at 10:00 a.m. and the pull following. The pull uses the LCATA sled and runs stock, modified, and open classes, with a 2,500-pound minimum weight.
Each tractor gets two hooks, and there are two “King of the Hill” classes. Buckle sponsors are Mike Banks and MS Agricanics. A barrel train will run at a time to be determined during the pull.
Runners have two options at City Park. The 5K starts at 9:00 a.m. Then at 10:00 a.m., the .05K Fun Run and Walk covers a distance of about 164 feet. (That is not a typo.) The entry fee for the .05K is a donation of canned food for the Winnsboro Community Resource Center, the local nonprofit food pantry.
Autumn Wind Senior Living is helping make the event possible. The organizers say all ages are welcome. Wheelchairs can be pushed by an assistant, walkers with or without wheels are fine, and strollers are welcome, too.
The Little Miss and Miss Autumn Trails Pageant wraps up the day at 6:00 p.m. at the City Auditorium.
Week Two: October 10
Saturday, October 10 is built for families and appetites. Bounce houses, carnival games, and the Stew Cook-Off all start at 10:00 a.m. The Cake and Pie Contest is also at 10:00 a.m. That is a lot of good food in one morning, so plan accordingly. That night, Winnsboro Live! brings a concert to the Jack Cross Pavilion at 7:30 p.m.
Week Three: October 16–17
The trail riding tradition takes center stage the third weekend. On Friday, October 16, the Trail Riders Welcome Parade begins at 4:00 p.m. at the corner of Highway 11 and FM 852 West. Riders arrive by horse and wagon, the same way it started in 1958.
Saturday, October 17 starts early with a pancake breakfast at the City Auditorium from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. The Trail Ride leaves City Park at 10:00 a.m. The 42 Tournament follows at 11:00 a.m. at the City Auditorium for the domino players in the crowd.
At 7:00 p.m., the WRA Mule Rodeo gets going at the WRA Rodeo Arena. According to the Autumn Trails Association, the youth and mule rodeo is free to attend. The night ends with the Barn Dance at 9:30 p.m. at the City Auditorium.
Week Four: October 22–25
The final weekend is the biggest, and it starts early. Trade Days and the Swap Meet open at 7:00 a.m. at City Park on Thursday, October 22, and they run again Friday, October 23. Saturday, October 24, is when downtown fills up.
The Antique and Classic Car Parade is always held on the fourth Saturday of October. It starts at the railroad tracks on Highway 11, about two and a half miles west of town, at 10:00 a.m. The cars reach downtown around 10:15 a.m. and park along Main Street. Downtown stays busy from there, with arts and crafts, contests, and sales at local stores all day.
Here is what else is happening on Saturday:
- 7:00 a.m.: Trade Days and Swap Meet, City Park
- 8:00 a.m.: Arts and Crafts, Elm and Market Street
- 8:00 a.m.: Christus Flu Shot Clinic, Elm and Market Street
- 10:00 a.m.: Antique Car Parade, Highway 11 at the railroad tracks
- 11:00 a.m.: Classic Car Show, South Main Street
- 11:00 a.m.: Fashion Through the Eras, Vanora Studio
- 11:00 a.m.: All School Reunion, Rock Gym
- 12:00 noon: Lonestar Pepper Palooza, the Bowery
- 1:00 p.m.: Pet Show, the Bowery
- 1:00 p.m.: Beard and Mustache Contest, Best Barber at the Bowery
- 5:00 p.m.: Model A Club BBQ, City Auditorium
That is a lot to fit into one day, and it is one of the better reasons to come to Winnsboro. You can watch a parade of vintage cars in the morning, eat hot peppers at noon, and see whose beard wins by mid-afternoon!
The festival winds down Sunday, October 25. Trade Days and Swap Meet is open at 7:00 a.m. at City Park, and the Model A Tour starts at 9:00 a.m. at Trails Country Motel.
More Than Events
The events are only part of what Autumn Trails offers. The association also promotes self-guided driving tours through the area’s rolling hills and stands of pine and hardwood, including portions of the official Texas Forest Trails.
Winnsboro sits at the gateway to the Piney Woods of East Texas, and the drive is worth the trip on its own. The canopied roads of Peckerwoods Flats and the lake country of Wood and Franklin Counties are especially popular when the leaves start to turn.
For some folks, October in Winnsboro is a tradition. For others, it is a first visit. Either way, the town has plenty of hotels, restaurants, and shops ready for the crowds, and local businesses see the benefit every weekend of the month.
Don’t Forget Halloween
October 31 rounds out the month with Trunk or Treat Downtown at 7:00 p.m. on South Main Street. It is a safe, easy way for kids to get their candy in a setting the whole family can enjoy.
Plan Your Visit
Full details, lodging information and event pages are available at the official Autumn Trails website. The Winnsboro Autumn Trails Association can also be reached at 903-342-1958 or by mail at P.O. Box 464, Winnsboro, TX 75494. The Facebook page, Winnsboro Autumn Trails Association, has regular updates. Times and locations can change, so check with the association before heading out. If you have not been in a while, October is a good time to fix that!