Members of the Orange Order passing an Orange Hall on Clifton Street in north Belfast
The Orange Order and approximately 600 bands are taking part in parades at 18 locations on Wednesday to mark the Twelfth of July.
As well as Belfast and Ballymena, parades will be held in towns including Ballinamallard, Magherafelt and Kilkeel.
Bangor, Northern Ireland’s newest city, will also host a demonstration.
The processions mark the victory of King William III over King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
William, a Protestant, had become King of England, Scotland and Ireland the previous year, after Catholic James II was deposed, and his victory secured his position.
A number of feeder parades have started ahead of larger demonstrations on Wednesday morning.
Image source, PA Media
The Pride of Ardoyne flute band parading passed Ardoyne shops in north Belfast
Orange Order Grand Master Edward Stevenson said he was eagerly anticipating this year’s events.
“I do not believe there is any other event on these islands that can bring such vast numbers of people onto the streets as our processions, either by taking part or simply to watch them go by,” he said.
“The high calibre of music provided by some of the finest marching bands in the country will certainly add to the festival atmosphere,” he added.
“We are really looking forward to another glorious Twelfth.”
Mr Stevenson said he was also looking forward to welcoming international visitors as well as those from Northern Ireland.
Orangemen in Lurgan began the day by marching to the town’s war memorial
Orange Order Grand Secretary Rev Mervyn Gibson said he was looking forward to “a family friendly day where we go out and celebrate our culture”.
“Today is about the glorious Twelfth of July and celebrating victory at the Battle of the Boyne,” he told BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme on Wednesday.
Commenting on the predicted rainy weather forecast, Rev Gibson said: “I think if King William was scared of a bit of water, he’d never have crossed the Boyne so a bit of rain isn’t going to dampen our spirits.”
This year’s parades will be held in:
- Ballinamallard
- Ballycastle
- Ballymena
- Bangor
- Belfast
- Broughshane
- Clogher
- Comber
- Coleraine
- Dromore
- Dungannon
- Kilkeel
- Loughbrickland
- Lurgan
- Magherafelt
- Portglenone
- Randalstown
- Upper Ballinderry
Up to 60 lodges from Donegal as well as counties Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan were joined by lodges from across Northern Ireland.
On Tuesday night, the “Eleventh Night” was marked by bonfires in many Protestant areas across Northern Ireland.
The BBC will broadcast highlights from eight demonstrations in a special hour-long programme on BBC One at 21:00 BST and on BBC iPlayer.
