FARMINGTON — Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers, an independently owned and operated bookstore, is celebrating its 20th anniversary Friday, June 3, with a literary-themed party with contests.

Guests will be asked to identify beloved book characters, who will appear in costume, and match prepared foods with the correct books.

The “Old Friends” Party begins at 6 p.m. at the store at 193 Broadway in Farmington. Guests can come dressed as their own favorite book character, if they wish, owner Ken Brechner said.

“We are all pretty excited about this and we’ve been planning it for months. We wanted it to be a celebration for the community as well as the store’s friends,” he said.

“The idea is to have a fun party that brings books to life,” he said.

Instructions will be handed out to guests to explain the games, and at about 7:30 p.m., winners will be announced.

The games include identifying six or more of the dozen or so book characters who will appear dressed in costume; guessing the identity of one of the eight mysterious wrapped books in the window that will have a clue taped on the cover; and linking a character to the correct quote.

Another contest will ask participants to match a food dish on the refreshment table to the correct book. The unusual foods, all prepared by staff and volunteers, will have recognizable literary references. Brechner gave as an example a dish that will not appear on Friday — a plate of bread and jam that related to the children’s book, “Bread and Jam for Frances.”

A special cake being made by Farmington Library Director Melanie Taylor and Pam Bonney will also have a surprise literary theme.

“It will be a spectacular, show-stopping cake,” Brechner said.

Brechner said the idea of a theme cake carries on the tradition of the Harry Potter book release parties the store has held for the community. One of the more elaborate cakes was in the shape of a giant spider and was created to coincide with the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)” by J.K. Rowling.

Also on Friday there will be book signings by three well-known Maine writers — Bernd Heinrich, Cynthia Lord and poet laureate Wesley McNair. For information, go to www.ddgbooks.com.