Tourist Entertainment Calendar 2025

February - March: Carnival Festivities

Entertainment in Downtown Funchal (26th Feb - 9th March): This colorful, energetic season includes live music, street performances, and festive decorations throughout the streets of Funchal. Celebrations pay tribute to Madeira’s lively culture, attracting both locals and tourists.

Solidarity Carnival and Children's Carnival (28th Feb): The Solidarity Carnival celebrates community spirit, raising funds for local causes, while the Children's Carnival Parade showcases adorable costumes and children’s joy, often themed around local cultural elements.

Allegoric Carnival Parade (1st March): Known for its elaborate floats and performers in fantastic costumes, the parade celebrates diverse themes each year, blending music, dance, and vivid colors.

Slapstick Parade (4th March): This unique event encourages humor and satire, with participants often wearing oversized, exaggerated costumes, parading through Funchal and creating a memorable spectacle.

May: Madeira Flower Festival

Entertainment in Downtown Funchal (1st - 25th May): Funchal becomes a floral paradise, with various streets adorned with vibrant flowers and daily entertainment including live bands, folklore performances, and traditional dance.

Palheiro Gardens Golf Classic (2nd & 3rd May): This event invites golf enthusiasts to play in the lush surroundings of Palheiro Gardens, a course known for its stunning views and rich flora.

Wall of Hope Ceremony (3rd May): In a symbol of hope, children place flowers on the “Wall of Hope,” a tradition representing the desire for peace and unity across the world.

Great Allegoric Flower Parade (4th May): With themed floats covered in thousands of blooms, the parade showcases Madeira's love for flowers and creativity. Costumed dancers join the floats, embodying the spirit of spring.

Wall of Solidarity Ceremony (9th May): Similar to the Wall of Hope, this ceremony promotes solidarity among all attendees, encouraging peace and understanding through floral symbolism.

Performances by “Flower Groups” (10th, 17th, & 18th May): Local groups dressed in floral costumes perform across Funchal, celebrating the beauty of nature and the island's rich plant life.

Madeira Flower Classic Auto Parade (11th May): A colorful procession of classic cars beautifully decorated with flowers, bringing a vintage flair to the streets of Funchal.

Flower Concerts (15th - 18th May): Featuring musicians and singers from Madeira and beyond, these concerts create an enchanting atmosphere with live performances inspired by the floral season.

Madeira Flower Collection (17th & 18th May): A fashion show inspired by the island’s floral diversity, featuring creations by local designers.

Flower Installations (22nd - 25th May): Intricate flower installations decorate public spaces, highlighting the creativity of local artists and Madeira's horticultural pride.

Madeira Classic Car Revival (23rd - 25th May): An event showcasing pristine classic cars, celebrated alongside the flowers in a perfect blend of vintage charm and natural beauty.

June: Atlantic Festival

Entertainment in Downtown Funchal (6th - 29th June): Downtown Funchal hosts daily music and dance performances, with a focus on Madeira's Atlantic heritage. Many acts highlight the island's maritime history.

Madeira International Fireworks Contest (7th, 14th, 21st & 28th June): This international competition features different pyrotechnic companies from across the world, lighting up the Funchal skyline every Saturday night with elaborate displays synchronized to music.

July: Classics at Magnolia (26th & 27th July)

Classics at Magnolia: A two-day gathering of classic cars at the beautiful Magnolia Gardens. Car enthusiasts and visitors gather to admire beautifully restored vehicles, often accompanied by live music and refreshments.

August - September: Madeira Wine Festival

European Folklore Week (24th - 28th August): European folklore groups come to Madeira, sharing their unique cultures through dance, costumes, and music performances, adding a European cultural dimension to the festival.

Madeira Wine Lounge (28th Aug - 14th Sept): Located in Funchal, the lounge offers wine tastings, workshops, and traditional Madeiran culinary pairings, celebrating the local wine culture in style.

Live Harvest in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos (6th Sept): A hands-on experience where visitors can participate in the grape harvest, a tradition symbolizing the beginning of Madeira's wine-making season.

Concerts in the Vineyards (6th, 7th, 13th & 14th Sept): Intimate musical performances set in Madeira’s vineyards, allowing guests to enjoy music while immersed in the serene natural surroundings.

September: Columbus Festival

Porto Santo Island (18th - 21st Sept): Celebrating the legacy of Christopher Columbus, who spent time in Madeira, this festival on Porto Santo Island includes a re-enactment of Columbus’ arrival, historical parades, and traditional music performances.

October: Madeira Nature Festival

7th to 12th October: Offering a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, diving, paragliding, and mountain biking, this festival celebrates Madeira’s natural beauty. There are eco-friendly workshops, guided nature walks, and chances to experience Madeira’s landscapes up close.

December - January: End of Year Festivities

General Illumination of Funchal Amphitheatre (1st Dec - 7th Jan): Thousands of lights illuminate Funchal’s natural amphitheater, creating a magical winter wonderland.

Christmas Exhibits in Downtown Funchal (1st Dec - 7th Jan): Holiday-themed decorations and exhibits fill the streets, capturing the Christmas spirit and attracting families for sightseeing.

New Year’s Eve Firework Display (31st Dec): Known as one of the world’s largest and most impressive firework displays, the show lights up the night sky, visible across the island.

“Chants of Epiphany” - Municipal Gardens (5th Jan): A cultural tradition where locals and visitors come together in the Municipal Gardens for Epiphany chants, marking the end of the holiday season.