BEACONS will be lit across the north to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee today.
The lighting of the beacons will take place at 9.45pm in towns and cities, including at Titanic Belfast, joining hundreds of others in Britain and the Commonwealth.
A service of thanksgiving to mark the queen's 70-year reign will be held at the Anglican St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh at 8pm, followed by a beacon-lighting ceremony in the grounds of the cathedral.
The Dean of Armagh, the Very Reverend Shane Forster, said: "The Hill of Armagh is the site of St Patrick's 'great stone church' and the burial place of a high king.
"It is therefore an appropriate location for a service to give thanks for the 70 years of public service given by Queen Elizabeth II, a reign which has been underpinned by her majesty’s strong Christian faith.
"We will also pay tribute to the queen's commitment to peace and reconciliation on this island as we commit ourselves afresh to serve our community with love and respect for all."
A service of thanksgiving will also be held at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast on Sunday at 3.30pm.
Queen's University Belfast will plant a magnolia tree on its grounds of its campus.
The university has also launched four new scholarships - two for undergraduates and two for postgraduates - that will begin in the next academic year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Greer said it is the first time that an English monarch has celebrated a platinum jubilee.
"The university is delighted to mark this occasion with the special planting of a magnolia tree, which also aligns with our commitment to sustainable planting," he said.
In Belfast, 2 Royal Avenue will be transformed into celebration of the city in the 1950s - the decade the queen ascended to the British throne.
The event on Saturday will showcase music and dance, photography, film, fashion and storytelling and take a creative look at people’s lives in Belfast in 1952.
On Sunday, the city hall will be lit up in purple.
A jubilee event in Lurgan on Saturday will include a performance from Queen tribute band Flash Harry.
At 8pm a party will be held in Lurgan Park - Ireland's second largest public park.
Visitors can watch the Platinum Party at the Palace live from Buckingham Palace and are invited to bring along a picnic or buy food in the park.
A group of young dancers from across Northern Ireland will stage two special performances of Swan Lake.
Inspired by the British royal family’s love of ballet, the 35 dancers aged nine to 18 from High Points Youth Ballet will perform at the Theatre at the Mill in Newtownabbey on Saturday and Sunday.
