The Royal Black Institution has announced details of six major demonstrations to be held on August 31, the finale to the parading season.
Around 17,000 members will parade at six locations for the traditional ‘Last Saturday’ events.
Major demonstrations will be held in Ballymena, Killyleagh, Ballygawley, Holywood, Beragh and Raphoe.
Approximately 350 preceptories will be accompanied by around 300 marching bands.
The ‘Last Saturday’ is one of the major days in the Royal Black Institution’s traditional parading calendar, alongside the ‘Sham Fight’ pageant which is held in Scarva on the Thirteenth of July.
Rev William Anderson, the Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Black, who will attend the Ballymena demonstration, said the Institution is looking forward to a “flagship day in the annual parading season”.
He said: “The annual Last Saturday parades are a colourful and glorious expression of culture, pageantry, history and music.”
Sixty preceptories and a similar number of bands from the South Tyrone/East Tyrone region, alongside Armagh City and Loughgall, will be involved at Ballygawley.
Five districts will take part – Aughnacloy, Killyman (Dungannon), East Tyrone (Cookstown), Primatial (Armagh City) and Summerisland (Loughgall).
Photo credit: Graham Baalham-Curry
The parade will make its way from the assembly point on the old Omagh Road to the Coronation Field, at which the Rev Alan Irwin, County Grand Chaplain, Tyrone, will preach at a religious service.
The 3,000-strong parade begins at noon, returning at 3pm.
The largest demonstration in the province will be held in the village of Killyleagh in Co. Down, with up to 10,000 participants, including the members of 92 bands, taking part.
Co. Down Grand Black Chapter is organising the event, which will see 13 district chapters in attendance.
The organisers said: “We are expecting around 10,000 spectators to witness a colourful and dignified parade – a great occasion for families and for friends and acquaintances to catch up with each other on the day.”
The assembly point is on the Comber Road, with the main demonstration field at Colley Hill (Crossgar/Killyleagh Road).
The parade will set off at noon, with a return time of 4pm.
Rev Anderson continued: “The tens of thousands of spectators at the various events will witness our members dressed in Royal Black regalia, with our wonderful banners proudly depicting biblical scenes.
“The institution’s principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront, with religious services at each of the venues.”
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