By Sue Hughes | For The Times-Post

PENDLETON — Pendleton will add to Madison County’s bicentennial celebrations with a multi-stop local tour called Pendleton Porch Party, set for 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20.
There will be 13 historic homes in the downtown area on the tour.
Guests will be invited to visit the porches and enjoy light refreshments as they learn about the history of the homes.
“When people think of Pendleton’s contribution to the landscape of Madison County, they think immediately of Falls Park and the National Register (of Historic Places district), and the diversity of its styles,” said Amy Turner, Pendleton site manager of the Madison County Bicentennial Steering Committee.
In addition to homes, Daughters of the American Revolution is planning an event at Grove Lawn Cemetery. It will honor veterans and past residents of the community.
Other stops will include South Madison Community Foundation, 233 S. Main St.; Pendleton First United Methodist Church (which is also celebrating its bicentennial this year), 225 W. State St.; Pendleton Historical Museum, 299 Falls Park Drive; the log cabin near the north entrance to Falls Park; Carnegie Learning Center (formerly Carnegie Library), 424 E. State St.
At the foundation, there will be three speakers talking about Pendleton history, with sessions at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Pendleton Community Public Library, 595 E. Water St., will be a rain location for those speakers and a cooling center if needed. Parking will be available at Pendleton Police Department and Parker Clock Repair.
Many downtown businesses will also be open on that day, Turner said.
Businesses that received facade grants several years ago will also be open and/or “marked, highlighted in some way.”
Town Hall, 100 W. State St., will be open with “a town council member or two” standing by to answer questions.
“Our hope is that family and friend groups make an afternoon of it, visiting several locations, stopping into a few shops and perhaps taking a few photos with the new mural in Falls Park,” Turner said.
Helping Turner on the committee were foundation Executive Director Tammy Bowman, community volunteer Cathy Pasko, Historic Fall Creek-Pendleton Settlement member Sandi Butler, Town Council President Marissa Skaggs, town manager Scott Reske, and Planning and Zoning Administrator Denise McKee.