City Centre Shopping Boost For 'Twelfth' Parades

Spectators for this year's traditional Orange Order parades on the Twelfth of July will enjoy an added attraction - shopping

An anticipated 250,000 people are again expected to either take part in the parade or line the route as spectators.

While actually being held on Monday the 13th to avoid being on the Sabbath, this year's event will also be a break from the norm, as the Orange Order has confirmed businesses will open their doors to the public once the main parade has passed through the city centre.

The move follows intensive discussions between County Grand Lodge of Belfast, Belfast City Centre Management, the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Belfast City Council and the police.

Businesses will however close before the parade makes its return from the demonstration field at Shaw's Bridge.

Orangefest spokesman William Humphrey said: "The Twelfth is now a major tourist attraction in the Northern Ireland calendar.

"We know that as well as local people, there are many others who time their visits to the province to coincide with the celebrations.

"The County Grand Lodge of Belfast and Orangefest have been working for several years to enhance the family friendly atmosphere to the Twelfth and this has been extremely successful," he said.

Andrew Irvine of Belfast City Management said: "A key element of the current campaign is to leverage the benefit of the extensive offer Belfast has in terms of events and festivals.

"The business community is therefore pleased to step up to the plate and play its part in helping to build Belfast's largest visitor number event into a festival with international appeal."

(BMcc)