April 2009
Flower Festival - 25th to 26th of April
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 2009
Atlantic Festival - 1st to 30st June
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 2009
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 typical Madeiran food and drink specialities.
September 2009
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 Mayor 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.
Christmas & New Years Eve
14th November to 6th January
Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations are deeply rooted in the traditions of the people of Madeira and varied programmes 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 ending with Epiphany on January 6th.
Already from mid-November, Funchal’s streets are magnificently decorated with innumerable colourful lights, some 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. The firework display is so impressive, it has made it into the Guiness Book of World Records!
