| ---- January ---- | |
|---|---|
| 1st | A public holiday |
| 6th | The Christmas illuminations in Funchal are turned off |
| ---- February ---- | |
| 11 - 12th | The 'Festival of Compadres' (Godfather). A parade through the streets of Santana. A carnival type event making fun of Political events. |
| 18th | The main Carnival event. A procession through the streets of Funchal Brazilian style. |
| 21st | 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 |
| 24th - 1st March | Championship of Europe RS:X windsurfing |
| ---- March ---- | |
| 4th | Half Marathon in Funchal |
| 31st | Put your clock forward 1 hour for summer time saving |
| ---- April ---- | |
| 6th | A public holiday Good Friday |
| 8th | Easter Sunday |
| 21st | Start of the 'Flower Festival' with the 'Wall of Hope' (thousands of flowers covering a vertical wall) in the Town Hall square, Funchal |
| 22nd | 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 |
| 17 - 20th | The 'Madeira Island Open' (PGA European Tour) on the island of Porto Santo |
| ----- June ----- | |
| Most Days | A month of music. Includes performances at the São Francisco park and the Baltazar Dias theatre in Funchal |
| 9th - 30th | A pyrotechnic display every Saturday evening at Funchal harbour |
| 9th | Madeira Island Ultra Trail (go to www.madeiratourism.com) |
| 10th | A public holiday. Portugal day |
| 22 - 24th | 25th Classic Car Rally (FIVA World Rally) |
| 23rd | A public holiday |
| ----- July ----- | |
| 1st | Public holiday. Day of the Region. The 'Day' when the archipelago was first discovered |
| Date to confirmed |
Funchal Jazz Festival in Santa Catarina Park |
| 26 - 28th | 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 |
| ---- August ---- | |
| 15th | 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 |
| 17 - 19th | Funchal Music Fest. A live music show with top name bands |
| 21st | A public holiday, Funchal day, to celebrate the City status created in 1508 |
| 28 - 2nd September | A Canoe race around the island |
| ----- September ----- | |
| 1st | Madeira 'Wine Festival' event with live harvesting of the grapes in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. Plus an exhibition of grape equipment on Funchal main road. A great time to try the local red wine |
| 3 - 9th | A Yacht Race to the Canary's Islands |
| Table Tennis Open International | |
| 13 - 15th | Columbus Festival on the island of Porto Santo |
| ----- October ----- | |
| 1 -7th | Madeira Nature Festival |
| 27th | 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 | |
| 5 - 11th | Open International Bridge competition |
| 10 - 17th | Funchal International Film Festival |
| ---- December ---- | |
| 1st | Beginning of the switching on of the Christmas illuminations in Funchal |
| 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 54th 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 |