'Biggest parade crowd wise': Downshire Guiding Star Flute Band annual parade is hailed as 'a huge success'

The honorary president of Downshire Guiding Star Flute Band has hailed Friday night’s parade in Banbridge, believing it may have attracted the largest crowds at a demonstration this year.

The Downshire Guiding Star Flute Band Annual Parade attracted 74 bands from all across Northern Ireland, who paraded from one end of the town to the other for some four hours.

placeholder image — Next generation of the Downshire Guiding Star Flute band ready to parade Banbridge on Friday night

It was anticipated that 5000 to 7000 spectators would be in the town for the parade as local businesses looked to cash in.

There was also plenty on the line for the bands as they competed for a wide range of titles.

Speaking to the News Letter about how the night unfolded, Garth Willis, honorary president of the Downshire Guiding Star said: “I would predict that crowd wise it was possibly one of the biggest this year.

"Everything went smoothly as there was no trouble, no hiccups and no big gaps between the bands. It might be the best annual parade we’ve hosted so far.

"However, we will now go away now and look what went well and what things we can improve for next year.

"A total of 74 bands were on parade and probably the one who came furthest away was from Limavady, so it was a great turnout and it was certainly competitive for the titles."