| ---- January ---- | |
|---|---|
| 1st | A public holiday |
| 6th | The Christmas illuminations in Funchal are turned off |
| 12 - 16th | A Walking Festival (go to www.madeiratourism.com) |
| Date to confirm |
Orienterring Festival (go to www.madeiratourism.com) |
| ---- February ---- | |
| 7th | The 'Festival of Compadres' (Godfather). A parade through the streets of Santana. A carnival type event making fun of Political events. |
| 13th | The main Carnival parade though the streets of Funchal, Brazilian style. Must see |
| 16th | The peoples Fun Carnival Where anyone can dress up in their idea of a Carnival costume and join in the procession through the streets of Funchal |
| ---- March ---- | |
| 27th | Put your clock forward 1 hour for summer time saving |
| ---- April ---- | |
| 2nd | A public holiday Good Friday |
| 4th | Easter Sunday |
| 8 - 11th | The 'Madeira Island Open' Pro-Am golf on the island of Porto Santo |
| 17th | Start of the 'Flower Festival' with the 'Wall of Hope' (thousands of flowers covering a vertical wall) in the Town Hall square, Funchal |
| 18th | The 'Flower Festival' parade through the streets of Funchal Many decorative floats with exotic flowers to be seen. Must see, if only to see the pretty children on the floats |
| 25th | A public holiday. Anniversary of the 1974 bloodless revolution in Portugal |
| ---- May ---- | |
| 1st | A public holiday. Workers day |
| 9th | A Festival of the Regional Philharmonic brass band competition in Ribeira Brava. A treat to listen to |
| 14 - 16th | A lemon (limão) festival held in Ilha village near Santana. A juicy encounter |
| ----- June ----- | |
| Most Days | A month of music. Includes performances at the São Francisco park and the Baltazar Dias theatre in Funchal |
| 3rd | A public holiday |
| 5th - 26th | A pyrotechnic display every Saturday evening 5th, 12th 19th, 26th at Funchal harbour |
| 10th | A public holiday. Portugal day |
| ----- July ----- | |
| 1st | Public holiday. Day of the Region. The 'Day' when the archipelago was first discovered |
| 8 - 10th | Funchal Jazz Festival in Santa Catarina Park |
| 9 - 11th | A cattle show in Porto Moniz. A selection of some of the best reared animals on Madeira. OK, if you like that sort of thing |
| ---- August ---- | |
| 5 - 7th | The 'Madeira Wine Rally'. A high speed time trial around the mountain and valley roads of the island, plus a special section for the tourist along the sea front road |
| 15th | A public holiday. Assumption |
| The Festival of Our Lady of Monte. One of the main religious festivals on the island with a procession through the streets to Monte church. Lots of eating and drinking afterwards. Must go | |
| 21st | A public holiday, Funchal day, to celebrate the City status created in 1508 |
| ----- September ----- | |
| 2 - 5th | Start of the three day 'Wine Festival' event with live harvesting of the grapes in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos on the 4th. Plus an exhibition of grape equipment on a Funchal main road. A great time to try the local red wine |
| 16 - 18th | Columbus Festival on the island of Porto Santo |
| ----- October ----- | |
| 5th | A public holiday. Republic day. The day when political changes were implemented from the year 1910 |
| 30th | At midnight change the clocks back one hour for winter time |
| ----- November ----- | |
| 1st | A public holiday. All Saints Day |
| A 'Chestnut Festival' in Curral das Freiras. Don't miss this one | |
| 26th | Switching on of the illuminations in Funchal. An overwhelming sight |
| ---- December ---- | |
| 1st | A public holiday. Restoration of Independence |
| 8th | A public holiday. The day of the Immaculate Conception |
| 25th | A public holiday. Christmas Day -- No bus service. Most businesses close, except restaurants, make a reservation though |
| 28th | The 50th road race around the streets of Funchal |
| 31st | At midnight see the awesome firework display around the amphitheatre of Funchal. One of world's best displays of pyrotechnics. Words fail me. Must see |