TOPSHAM — The town’s year-long 250th birthday celebration could now include a party with its English namesake.

Dubbed “Two Topshams, Two Bridges, Two Pubs,” and planned for July 12, the event would allow residents of the Topshams here and in the county of Devon, England, to share a drink at the same time via an Internet video link.

Details of the event were still being worked out last week, but Steve Edmondson, who co-chairs the 250th steering committee with Mike Labbe, said the arrangement would allow people in the two watering holes to see and talk to each other.

The year-long celebration began with a New Year’s Eve bonfire at the Topsham Fairgrounds.

Other events scheduled throughout 2014 include a Celtic festival on Friday, May 16, to celebrate Topsham’s Scottish-Irish history. The 6:30 p.m. show, at the Orion Performing Arts Center at Mt. Ararat Middle School, will feature several groups performing Scotch, Irish and English music and dance, Edmondson said.

A core event will be held at the Fairgrounds July 18-20, similar to Topsham’s three-day celebration in July 1964 of its 200th anniversary as an incorporated town. A 5K road race, firemen’s muster, old-fashioned barn dance, Head of Tide Park celebration, Civil War re-enactment and quilter’s festival are planned for that weekend.

Meanwhile, the Topsham Historical Society continues its monthly lectures at the Topsham Public Library. Each talk has some relevance to Topsham’s history.

Log onto the committee’s Facebook page, “Topsham, Maine 250th Celebration,” and its website, topshammaine.com/250, to find out more, get in touch with the committee, share ideas or to volunteer to help with the year’s events.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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