Last minute efforts by nationalists to have an Orange Order parade in north Belfast re-routed during tomorrow's July 12th parades failed tonight.
A nationalist resident of the Ardoyne area went to the High Court in Belfast seeking to have a feeder parade stopped from passing the area on its way to and from the main Belfast parade.
Last year there were minor disturbances when bottles and stones were thrown as the parade marched its route home in the evening.
The resident was granted leave in the High Court in the morning to seek leave for a judicial review of the Parades Commission decision to allow the parade to go forward along its chosen route.
But in the later hearing the court turned down the application and said the parade route should remain unchanged.
Northern Ireland has enjoyed an uncharacteristic calm ahead of the weekend parading this year and hopes were high the event would pass off without major incident.
First towns and cities across the North had to get through the traditional "11th Night" lighting of bonfires, during which passions often run high.
In the morning tens of thousands of Orangemen will be parading with bands to centres across Northern Ireland- the high point of the annual loyal marching season.
Main rallies will be held in Belfast, Crossgar, Co Down, Limavady, Co Antrim, Markethill, Co Armagh, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh and Fintona, Co Tyrone.
Dissident Ulster Unionist MPs the Rev Martin Smyth and Jeffrey Donaldson are expected to use their addresses at rallies to intensify their opposition to the peace process policies of party leader Mr David Trimble.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said that so far this summer common-sense and cool heads had prevailed and there had been little trouble on the streets.
"My hope is that we will have a trouble-free weekend across the North and that we can continue to make progress towards the stable and peaceful society we all desire."
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mr Martin Morgan added his voice to the calls for calm asking those engaged in parading to exercise "level-headedness and common-sense".
Mr Morgan appealed: "At this time of year tensions are normally high and it is important that all those with influence in the community exercise that influence to ensure that parades pass off without incident.
"Citizens throughout Belfast should be able to live safely in their homes and go about their normal business on their streets without fear of intimidation or harm."
PA