The marching season will reach a finale with the Royal Black Institution’s annual ‘Last Saturday’ demonstrations, with Dungannon and Newry among the five areas to be hosting parades.
Upwards of 17,000 members will take part across Northern Ireland on August 29, involving around 350 preceptories and 300 bands.
In Dungannon, a total of 80 preceptories will be accompanied by the same number of bands at the Co Tyrone Grand Black Chapter demonstration in Dungannon.
Killyman RBDC No 1 is hosting the event, which was last held there seven years ago.
Members from Monaghan, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh and Armagh will join with sir knights from Tyrone in the 3,500-strong procession, with around 20,000 spectators expected to attend.
The procession will make its way to the demonstration field at Lord Northland Park.
David Livingstone, the County Grand Master for Armagh, will be the principal speaker. Platform proceedings will be chaired by Harold Erskine, County Grand Master, Tyrone, with the service of worship conducted by Canon Alan Irwin, County Grand Chaplain, Tyrone.
Newry, meanwhile, will host the largest Last Saturday demonstration.
The organisers, Newry Royal Black District No 4, are looking forward to a parade of up to 5,000 participants, including the members of around 100 bands.
They said: “Locally, the event provides a significant platform for the public expression of the Protestant and Unionist cultural tradition in Newry City.
“This is particularly significant as Newry has not hosted the Royal Black Institution’s Last Saturday demonstration since 2011.”
Around 5,000 spectators are expected as the parade makes its way from the assembly area at Newry High School to the demonstration field at Shandon Park, taking two hours to pass any given viewing point.
The main parade will begin at 12 noon, with the return parade due to start at 4pm.
Platform speakers will include Paul McCarroll, the County Grand Master; Rev Nigel Reid, minister of Tullyallen and Mountnorris Congregations; and Raymond Adams, County Grand Chaplain.
The other demonstrations will be held in Dundonald, Larne and Coleraine.
Sovereign Grand Master Rev William Anderson will attend the gathering in Dundonald.
He said: “The annual Last Saturday processions are flagship events on the parading calendar.
“We expect to see thousands of supporters turning out at the various locations, where they will see a glorious expression of culture, pageantry, music and history.
“I was very impressed by the huge crowds of supporters who enjoyed the annual July celebrations at Scarva and Bangor, and by the great attendance at Brookeborough on August 1.”
He added: “The institution’s principled stance on the Reformed Christian Faith will be to the forefront at all our demonstrations on the Last Saturday, with religious services held at each location.”
