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Thousands turn out to annual Scarva Sham Fight

Pacemaker A young girl wears a pair of sunglasses with the Union Jack flag on them. She is also wearing a white band uniform and a red tie.Pacemaker
Pacemaker A wide shot of a band playing accordions marching in the middle of the route in ScarvaPacemaker
Thousands have turned out in Scarva to celebrate the village's annual Sham Fight
The day started with a parade featuring 4,800 band members
  • Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Scarva in County Down for the annual Sham Fight.
  • The mock battle shows a theatrical re-enactment of the victory of King William over King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
  • A mile-long parade featuring about 70 bands and preceptories from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US also made its way through the village on Saturday.
  • The event, hosted by the Royal Black Institution, takes place every year on 13 July.
  • Scarva is where King William is said to have camped with his army on his way to the Battle of the Boyne.