PacemakerThe Royal Black Institution is marking the finale of the parading season with six major Last Saturday demonstrations, also known as Black Saturday.
It is expected that more than 17,000 members will take part in the parades involving around 350 preceptories and 300 bands.
The parades are taking place in Antrim, Dundrum, Castlederg, Cookstown, Ballyclare and Limavady.
The biggest demonstration is in Dundrum in County Down, with up to 10,000 expected to attend including 97 bands.
PacemakerThe parade began at 11:30 BST, with the return parade scheduled for 16:00.
What is the Royal Black Institution?
The Royal Black Institution has about 17,000 members.
While most are based in Northern Ireland, there are preceptories in Scotland, England, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The institution holds two main demonstrations each year – the 13 July Sham Fight and the Last Saturday.
PacemakeTwo years after the formation of the Orange Order in 1795, the Royal Black Institution came into existence in Ireland in 1797.
It describes on its website that it is “totally based on the teachings of Holy Scripture and is committed to the furtherance of the Christian message of the Cross”.
Members refer to each other as Sir Knights.
Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Jim Molyneaux was sovereign grand master from 1971 to 1995.
The Reverend William Anderson is the current head of the organisation.
