Winnsboro, Texas, is a small, quaint town of 3600 people surrounded by lakes and forests in the beautiful northeast area of the state.  Located 90 miles from Dallas, Shreveport and Texarkana, 45 miles north of Tyler, makes it an ideal distance for a weekend getaway from the big city.

There are 10 lakes, several golf courses, and the old growth hardwood trees in the area present such beautiful foliage, in the Fall, that the entire month of October is dedicated to Autumn Trails.  This year was the 50th anniversary of the annual event.  This event has hosted the largest trail ride (over 10,000 horses), and the largest antique car rally in the State of Texas (a State well known for "everything being bigger & better"), the Chicken Run Rally (motorcycles), and swap meet at city park.  A queen is selected the first weekend to oversee the months festivities.  She is selected for this honor, and is awarded a scholarship, from among the outstanding, local, high school young ladies.  This pageant is a qualifying pageant for Miss Texas, and therefore, for the Miss America scholarship pageant.  She is present at all the parades and pageantry throughout the month.

Winnsboro is also host to the annual Woodstock festival the first weekend in May, sponsored by the Winnsboro Area Merchants Association.  The entire weekend is dedicated to music, music, and more music.  Bands playing at various places on the streets, arts and crafts vendors, and food are some of the things to expect.  The entire atmosphere is magically alive for one and all.  We are also home to the annual Northeast Texas Music Festival the first weekend in June.  The area is becoming known as the music capital of northeast Texas.

See the rest of this article here in the Purple Roofs Newsletter