Updated: The British Are Coming!

on Charles River Street will be the site of a Revolutionary War battle encampment featuring numerous units of British and rebel soldiers as part of Needham 300’s yearlong celebration of Needham’s birthday.

For two days, May 21 and 22, soldiers from The Brigade of the American Revolution will camp out at Ridge Hill and stage mock battles. The Brigade, established in 1962, is a non-profit living history association that recreates the life and times of the common soldier in the Revolutionary War. Members represent elements of all the armies, as well as civilian men, women and children. Ken Siegal, a Needham resident, offered to donate the Brigade to the town’s Tercentennial Committee and was instrumental in helping to plan the event.

On both Saturday and Sunday the camp opens at 10:00 a.m. Visitors can tour the site and talk with the soldiers. There will be artillery demonstrations, musical concerts and military drills. There will also be vendors selling food. The battles will occur at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, so visitors will be ushered to the spectator area 30 minutes in advance.

On Saturday night, May 21, there will also be an 18th Century Ball at the VFW hall on Junction Street. The ball will include live music and dancing. Soldiers and civilians of both the American and British armies will attend in 18th Century formal attire. The ball is formal and members of the public are invited but must either wear period costume or black-tie formal attire. Tickets are $10 at the door with a cash bar.

Admission to the Ridge Hill site is free but crowds are expected to be large. During the actual battles, all spectators must be within the designated spectator area, so all members of the public who wish to watch the battles must have arrived no later than 1 pm on Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. For everyone's safety, no one will be admitted once the battle begins.

Because of ground conditions, parking will no longer be available at the adjacent nike site. Residents should plan to park at , 1155 Central Ave. Shuttle buses between the event site and the Newman school will be operational starting at approximately 10:00 a.m., running every 20 or 30 minutes. No parking will be allowed on Charles River Street or Pine Street. Only handicapped parking is available at Ridge Hill. For directions and the schedule, see www.needhamhistory.org.

You can find a link to all the details and calendar of events at Needham300.org.

Needham 300 is a nonprofit committee appointed by the selectmen and made up of Needham residents planning a year of festivities to celebrate the anniversary of Needham’s founding on Nov., 6, 1711. More information is available on the Web site at Needham300.org. Or visit them on Facebook at Needham300.