Parades in Ballymena and district

The district’s 30 lodges and some 15 bands will this year be joined by past Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Robert Saulters.

The lodges and about 15 bands will assemble on Waveney Road at 12.30pm and parade the traditional route through the town via Galgorm Road, the Pentagon, Lower Mill Street, Wellington Street, Ballymoney Street, William Street, Broughshane Street, Church Street, Bridge Street, Harryville Bridge, Larne Street, Larne Road, Wakehurst Road and Antrim Road to the demonstration field at Ballee playing fields where the religious service at 3pm will be conducted by Rev Victor Ryan.

The Braid Twelfth will be hosted by Carnlough for the first time in six years, welcoming up to 400 Orangemen, representing a total of 11 Districts.

The main parade is scheduled to start at 12 noon and those participating will parade from the assembly point on the South Bay, through the village to the demonstration field on the Largy Road.

This year’s Triangle Combine Parade will be held in Ahoghill.

The village is expected to play host to the largest contingent of the lambeg drum on parade throughout the Province, with impromptu drumming sessions adding to the carnival atmosphere.

A total of 16 lodges, accompanied by nine bands, will take part in the close-knit demonstration, which is held on other years in Cullybackey and Portglenone.

The main parade is due to commence from the Galgorm Road (main Ballymena line)/ Killane Road junction at 12.30pm, and then proceed towards the village centre via the Portglenone line, Glebe Road, Church Street, through the Diamond area to the Village Playing Fields on the Cullybackey Road.

Guest speakers will be Rev Sherrard McKay, chaplain of Cullybackey District, and William Moody, minister of Brookside Presbyterian.