The island of Madeira and its archipelago was discovered in 1419 however it wasn’t until 1508 that its largest settlement, Funchal, was granted the status of City, by the King.
This year Madeira is celebrating the 500 years of the existence of its capital and such a commemoration brings a large number of exhibitions, concerts, conferences and many other cultural events.
The celebration is vast and varied as you can see in our highlights below:
July 2nd – 6th - 9th Funchal Jazz Festival. Will be held in Quinta Magnólia
October 2nd – 5th Tall Ships Race. The Sail Training International is organizing a spectacular race starting at Falmouth (South of England) calling at the Port of Aveiro on the first stage and on for a second stage of the race from the south of Portugal to Funchal in Madeira.
April 3rd – 6th Flower Festival
June – Atlantic Firework Festival to be held every Saturday of the month of June. Enjoy the music of philharmonic bands in town during this month.


January

Madeira Walking Festival – 15th to 19th January 2008

The Festival consists on organized walks during 5 consecutive days. There are trail walks and also the very famous "Levada" walks (walks that follow old waterways still working today!) There are 20 routes and all have been carefully chosen to offer the participants a walk to suit all different levels of expertise.

Madeira Orienteering Festival – 23rd to 25th January
This competition takes place in the open. Choose from one long or one shorter trail to suit different levels of expertise.


February

2nd to 5th of February

Background carnival music in Funchal downtown;
Illumination and decoration alluding to this time of year.

Carnival 2008
Theme: Carnival Around the World

February 1st, Friday
Revelry in the City Centre
10:30 – 11:45 Children’s gathering from schools in Funchal dressed in Carnival costumes –Avenida Arriaga.
10:30 – 12:30 Theater Group – Avenida Arriaga.
10:00 – 14:00 District Band of Funchal
21:00 Carnival Concert – Orquestra Clássica da Madeira – Madeira Casino Auditorium

February 2th, Saturday
Revelry in the City Centre
10:00 – 19:00 Canecão Band, District Band of Funchal, Municipal Band of Funchal, Theatre group
21:00 - Grande Carnival Parade Starting at the Praça da Autonomia, Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, subida pela R. dias Leite, Infante roundabout, Av. Arriaga, Avenida Zarco, Rua Câmara Pestana and Praça do Municipio
23:00 - Closing of the Grand Parade in Praça do Municipio

February 3th, Sunday
Revelry in the City Centre
10:00 – 19:00 Canecão Band, District Band of Funchal, Municipal Band of Funchal, Theatre group

February 4th, Monday
Revelry in the City Centre
10:00 – 19:00 Canecão Band, District Band of Funchal, Municipal Band of Funchal, Theatre group

February 5th, Tuesday
Revelry in the City Centre
16:00 Slapstick Cortege, open to everyone Starting at Praça da Autonomia, Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, subida pela R. dias Leite, Infante roundabout, Av. Arriaga, Avenida Zarco, Rua Câmara Pestana e Praça do Municipio
17:30 Musical show by the Orquestra Ligeira da Madeira at the Praça do Municípo



April

5th to 6th of April
Flower Festival

Every year, two weeks after Easter, Madeira’s flower-festival fills the main streets of Funchal’s centre with floats displaying a myriad of flowers and colours.

On the eve before the street parade, thousands of children gather in the Praça do Município where they build a ‘Wall of Hope’, made of thousands of flowers. Other accompanying activities during this time are the making of flower carpets in the streets, folklore performances, flower shows, classical music concerts and variety shows.


June

From 1 to 30 June
Atlantic Festival

The Atlantic Festival is organised by the Regional Secretariat of Tourism and Culture and is an important event that combines entertainment and culture. It has three components: the Madeira Music Festival, the International Fireworks Competition and performances by philharmonic bands in Funchal’s centre.

During this festival classical music performances are held in eminent sites of the region, such as Palácio de São Lourenço, Teatro Municipal Balthazar Dias, Casa das Mudas, and several churches in Funchal. This festival also comprises the International Fireworks Competition, in which, on every Saturday in June, contestants from different countries organise magnificent firework displays in harmony with accompanying music.


September

Madeira Wine Festival 5th, 6th and 7th September
Recalling the social and economic importance of Madeira wine by reliving old wine-growing traditions, the Madeira Wine Festival is held in September during the main period of grape harvesting.

The festival begins in the village of Câmara de Lobos with the actual picking of the grapes, the pickers’ parade, the treading of the grapes and other related traditions that are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. In the centre of Funchal, the Madeira Wine Festival includes light, sound and folk shows, all related to old wine-making traditions, and many stands serve the for the season typical Madeiran food and drink specialities.


Columbus Festival

This event is dedicated to the great navigator Christopher Columbus who had a close connection to Madeira and also lived a few years in Porto Santo. This week-long festival is held in Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island and features lots of music, drama, exhibitions, parades and street parties, recalling the glorious times of the Portuguese discoveries.

Columbus’ first visit to Madeira was in 1478, as in those times Funchal was an important sugar trade centre. However, his closest ties to the archipelago are resulting from his marriage to Filipa Moniz, daughter of the first captain-donee of Porto Santo.

Columbus lived in the archipelago during the last quarter of the 15th century and his first child Diogo was born in Porto Santo. This festival recalls the discoverer’s life in the Madeira Archipelago, his voyages to the Americas and the glorious times of the Great Discoveries.

The highlight of this week crammed with history is the re-enactment of Columbus’ and his party’s arrival in Porto Santo’s harbour.


October 08
November 08
December 08
January 09

14th November to 6th January 2009
Christmas & New Year’s Activities

Christmas and the end of the year celebrations are deeply rooted in the traditions of the people of Madeira and a varied programme of cultural, folk and artistic events can be enjoyed in Funchal’s centre. The festive season starts in Madeira in November when the colourful illuminations are switched on in the city’s main streets and lasts all through December to end only with Epiphany on January 06th.  

Already from mid-November on Funchal’s streets are magnificently decorated with innumerable colourful lights put up in motifs relating to the island and the festive season.  

New Year’s Eve is celebrated everywhere on the island, in hotels, restaurants, bars, and even in the streets. The highlight of the New Year’s Eve festivities are spectacular fireworks – set off from approximately 50 posts – that illuminate the skies over Funchal for the duration of about ten minutes. This is a truly unforgettable event, which brings back a multitude of visitors to the island each year.