Twelfth of July 2024: Where to watch parades across Northern Ireland
Last updated 8th Jul 2024
Hundreds of thousands of Orangemen, band-members and spectators are expected to take to the streets across Northern Ireland this Friday.
Close to 600 bands will take part marching on Friday across 18 local parades.
Belfast will host the longest Twelfth parade on the day, with participants walking over six miles to the field.
The Twelfth demonstrations will follow the traditional Rossnowlagh parade held in the Republic of Ireland on the preceding weekend.
GB News has confirmed their Twelfth coverage plans with host Dame Arlene Foster set to be based outside Carrickfergus Castle and joined by Charlie Lawson.
The 18 demonstrations on Friday 12th July 2024 will be held in - Newtownstewart, Benburb, Ballygawley, Newtownards, Ballynahinch, Annalong, Gilford, Ballymena, Broughshane, Carrickfergus, Cloughmills, Derriaghy, Ahoghill, Belfast, Killylea, Londonderry, Moneymore and Irvinestown.
Find out where and when the parades are taking place across Northern Ireland:
Ahoghill
A total of 16 lodges will come from the Districts of Portglenone, Ahoghill and Cullybackey to take part, with nine bands and seven sets of Lambeg Drums with fifes adding to the spectacle.
The main parade will move off at 12.30pm from Killane Road following a route via Galgorm Road, Ballymena Road, Main Street, The Diamond, Church Street, (Return down Church Street), The Diamond, Cullybackey Road, Cullybackey Road Link, to the demonstration field at the Ahoghill Community Centre.
Annalong
More than 1,100 Orangemen from Mourne District will partake in one of the most scenic Twelfth parades in Northern Ireland.
As is tradition, Kilkeel lodges will leave Kilkeel Orange Hall at 10.45am and walk the fivemile route to Annalong. They will meet their fellow brethren at the Grove Road, before the entire District parades through Annalong to the demonstration field. In the village, the procession will walk along the Shore Road, only a few yards from the sea.
The district will start their homeward parade at 3.30pm. The Kilkeel and country Lodges return to Kilkeel where they will parade to Kilkeel Orange Hall.
Ballygawley
Ballygawley's 12th celebrtions include 22 Lodges and bands from Fivemiletown and Annahoe Districts this year, all set to move off at 12.30pm.
The parade will start from Church Street and will proceed through the village of Ballygawley, Old Dungannon Road and to the Demonstration field on Omagh Road, close to Ballygawley Roundabout.
Ballymena
The parade will assemble at Meeting House Lane Car Park. At 12.30pm it will proceed to the demonstration field at community centre/playing fields Tullygarley via Meeting House Lane, Castle Street, Church Street, Wellington Street, Lower Mill Street, Galgorm Road, Waveney Road, Harryville Bridge, Queen Street, Toome Road, Tullygarley Road and Riverdale. Return Via Riverdale, Tullygarley Road, Toome Road and Queen Street. The parade should finish around 2.30pm.
Ballynahinch
Ballynahinch is the venue for this year's Mid-Down Twelfth of July Celebrations.
The main parade will leave from the Belfast Road, outside The High School Ballynahinch, at noon, with the hosts leading the way. The parade route is Belfast Road, Main Street, High Street, Church Street, Church Road, Spa Road to the Demonstration field Woodlodge Park. The parade will pause briefly at the Arch and cover road with water from the Boyne River.
There will be a range of entertainment including Highland dancers, and Lambeg drummers as parade enters demonstration field.
The usual catering village with various stalls and children's entertainment, such as rides, inflatables, face painting and more, will cater for everyone's needs. The return parade will start leaving Demonstration field from 4pm.
Belfast
The parade will leave Belfast Orange Hall, at Carlisle Circus at 10am, and makes it way along Clifton Street, Donegall Street, Royal Avenue and Donegall Place to Belfast City Hall to conduct its annual act of remembrance.
A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Cenotaph in the grounds of the City Hall shortly before 10.30am and the parade will then proceed via Donegall Square West, Bedford Street, Dublin Road, Shaftsbury Square, Bradbury Place, Lisburn Road, Balmoral Avenue and Malone Road to the field at Barnett's Demesne.
The return parade is due to leave the field and proceed towards the city centre at 3.30pm.
Belfast Orangefest adds to this day of celebration by bringing numerous other street attractions and events.
The timings for the Orangefest events will be from 9.00am to 2.00pm for the parade and entertainment with the shops opening from 1.00pm to 5.00pm and the evening parade expected back in the City Centre from approximately 5.00pm.
Benburb
In total, seven Districts from the Mid Ulster/ South Tyrone area will parade with 65 lodges and approximately 45 bands. The districts on parade are Killyman, Stewartstown, Cookstown, Coagh, Pomeroy, Castlecaulfield and the hosts, Benburb.
The main parade will get underway at 12.30pm, leaving the assembly field at Drumgose Road onto the Derryfubble Road and following a route along Main Street out of the village, through the Moyard Crossroads to the field.
Broughshane
The Braid Twelfth of July celebrations will be held in Broughshane for the second year in a row.
The parade, which will feature two sets of Lambeg Drums and nine bands, will start at Beechvale, Broughshane at 12noon. It will make its way down Raceview Road and Main Street to the Carnlough Road, where it will turn back and return along Main Street before turning onto Knockan Road to the Community Centre, which provides the venue for the demonstration field.
There will be food, refreshments and entertainment for children in the field. Following the platform proceedings, the parade will reform at 4pm to return to Beechvale.
Carrickfergus
The parade will include 60 Lodges and around 40 bands with numerous Lambeg drummers, who will accompany up to 2,000 members in the lodges.
The parade will start at 11am, with the route following Northland, North Road, St Bride's Street, Albert Road, Lancasterian Street, Antrim Street, Joymount, Scotch Quarter, Taylor's Avenue, Marine Highway, Belfast Road, Davy's Street, Minorca Place, Ellis Street and Woodburn Road.
Cloughmills
The main parade will get underway at 1pm taking a route from the assembly field at Drumadoon Road, along Main Street to the demonstration field on Ballycreagh Road.
The return parade will get underway at 4pm following the same route to Drumadoon route.
Derriaghy
Upwards of 2,000 Orangemen and Women, accompanied by around 20 bands will take part.
The main parade will get underway at 11.30am and is expected to be completed by 12:30pm.
The return parade will get underway at 4pm.
Gilford
It is anticipated that there will be around 10,000 attendees on the day to watch over 60 Lodges and bands from South West Down. The districts on parade with be Gilford, Banbridge, Bann Valley, Lower Iveagh, Rathfriland, Lower Iveagh West, Loughbrickland and Newry.
The parade will gather in the assembly field at the junction of Plantation Road/Moyallan Road and follow a route along High Street, Dunbarton Street, The Square, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Wall Road to the demonstration field on the Scarva Road.
The return parade will start at 4pm.
Irvinestown
The Fermanagh parade traditionally encompasses the entire county with Brethren taking part from Newtownbutler, Lisbellaw, Brookeborough, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, Ballinamallard, Kinawley, Glenawley, Lisnarick, Pettigo, Magheraboy, Church Hill, Maguiresbridge, Garrison and Tempo districts. The Sisters of Women's Districts 1, 2 and 3, Junior Lodges from South Fermanagh, Brookeborough, Maguiresbridge, Ballinamallard and South Fermanagh Junior Girls Lodge will also be on parade.
The parade will assemble in the walled garden at Castle Irvine estate and then proceed from Necarne Castle through the Necarne estate, Castle Street, Irvinestown main street, A35 Kesh Road to the demonstration field at Moneykee.
Return parade will get underway at 3pm, finishing at approximately 4.30pm
Killylea
Almost 70 bands will accompany the Lodges marchin in Killylea this year.
The parade route is as follows: Assembly Field – Armagh Road - Main Street – Killylea Road - to the Demonstration Field.
In the field, all the usual stalls and food venders will be set up. There will be a number of activities for children and as always impromptu band and Lambeg Drum rehearsals.
Londonderry
The Route to the field will be Glendermott Road, Clooney Terrace, Spencer Road, Craigavon Bridge, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, The Diamond (Anti-Clockwise), Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Kennedy Place, Kennedy Street, Wapping Lane, Craigavon Bridge, Spencer Road, Clooney Terrace, Glendermott Road, May Street, Limavady Road to the field at Wilton Park (next to Brigade Cricket Club). The main parade will depart from Glendermott Road (end of Bonds Street) at 11.30am. It is expected the entire parade will have arrived in Wilton Park for 2pm.
There will be a local farm "Kidz Farm" in the field with a selection of animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, chickens, snake, bearded dragon, hedgehog, rats, tortoise, tarantula, lamb, goat and an alpaca. In addition, there will be a selection of inflatables, inflatable obstacle course and putt and play golf all in the field.
The return parade will depart from Wilton Park at 3.45pm. The parade route will initially be Limavady Road, May Street and Bonds Street. Visiting Districts will then make their way to their buses on the Glendermott Road for onwards travel to their respective areas.
Moneymore
All District Lodges will assemble on the Desertmartin Road from 10.30am in a field opposite the junction with the Tulnagee Road and will move off in district order to the Demonstration Field on the Moneyhaw Road. Moneymore District Lodge will lead the parade with the route being Desertmartin Road, station Road, Lawford Street, High Street, Stonard Street, Bridger Street, Moneyhaw Road.
All lodges are to be in the Demonstration Field by 1pm
The procession will depart the Demonstration Field at 3.30pm via Moneyhaw Road, Bridger Street, Stonard Street, High Street, Smith Street and Magherafelt Road to the buses parked on the hard shoulders.
Newtownards
More than 40 lodges and 30 bands will be on parade, with a selection of flute, accordion and pipe bands taking part.
The main parade will commence at 1pm and will consist of over 30 bands and 1,000 Orangemen and women. The parade will follow the one-way system round the town centre and back to Londonderry Park where there will be entertainment on the stage with both Irish and Scottish dancers.
The return parade will then commence at 4.30pm.
Newtownstewart
The demonstration takes in the six Districts that cover North and West Tyrone - Strabane, Killen, Newtownstewart, Omagh, Fintona and Sixmilecross - a total of fifty-eight lodges and around forty accompanying bands.
The main parade will start at 12.30pm and cover a route from Baronscourt Road (Assembly field), Strabane Road, Millbrook Lane, Mourne Park, Millbrook Lane, Oldcastle Road, Dublin Street, Main Street, Castle Brae, Old Douglas Road, to Castle Brae and the Demonstration field.
The return leg of the parade will commence at 4pm.
Read more:
Sir Keir Starmer: PM meets political leaders at Stormont
Benn insists Casement Park will be built, one way or another
Three coaches completely destroyed following arson in Co Antrim