Last week, admirers of classic cars were able to catch a glimpse of 150 hot rods as a parade passed through Sparta on its way to Milledgeville.
The second annual National Collector Car Appreciation Day event saw its proceeds benefit the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Youth Homes, which is a residential care program that houses, feeds, and clothes abandoned, neglected, and abused children in a safe, nurturing environment.
The parade departed from the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Headquarters in Madison at 9:45 a.m. and conclude at the Dogwood Barn in the G5 Ranch of Milledgeville. It passed through Greensboro and Sparta along its route.
Traveling country back roads within scenic middle Georgia, the police-escorted train of cars was led by the Police Departments and Sheriff’s Offices of the cities and counties they passed through.
The Sparta Police Department ushered the parade through the city around 10:45 a.m. The route led drivers off of Highway 15 onto Powelton Avenue. They continued to Elm Street, made a right onto Broad Street, and then drove down Highway 22 to Milledgeville.
In Baldwin County, the cruising cars followed State Route 24 into Milledgeville. The hot rods were viewed as they passed along Hancock, Clarke, and Elbert Streets before circling back to Hancock Street en route to their final destination on Stembridge Road.
The event was organized by the Georgia Street Rod Association, made up of enthusiasts, businesses, and organizations that are dedicated to automotive related education, safety, and awareness. It is the largest automotive association of its type in Georgia.
National Collector Car Appreciation Day is annually celebrated to spotlight the role that restoring and collecting cars plays in America, highlighting the lucrative car businesses that have fiscally benefited the U.S.
Last year, the inaugural parade showcased 40 vintage vehicles passing through Loganville, Monroe, Social Circle, and Covington. In 2024, the event quadrupled in size and doubled in length.
