THOUSANDS lined the main parade route in Belfast from early on Tuesday, snaking from Donegall Street in the city centre to the top of Lisburn Road.
Deckchairs stretched as far as the eye could see, as families searched for the best vantage spot and groups of friends gathered to enjoy a tipple, ranging from water and Fanta orange to Buckfast and beer.
This year the Orange Order made a concerted effort to make the celebrations more family-friendly and rid the Twelfth of the stigma of alcohol abuse.
The 'Battle not the Bottle' campaign still appears to be a work in progress, but those on the streets said the numbers drinking appeared to have reduced significantly.
Litter too, was less prevalent.
On one of the busiest policing days of the year, the sight of officers and band members joking together whilst queuing for doughnuts on Union Street was another welcome sight.
The stores that chose to open suffered another poor day's trade, though pop-up stalls were more successful, selling everything from drums to inflatable hammers adorned in Union flags.
However, the atmosphere in the city centre was mostly welcoming, and looking around the crowds, the international tourists amongst them were more confused than concerned by the sights and sounds.
Even the rain stayed away as the thousands on the streets enjoyed the day before dispersing without fuss in the early afternoon.
