The Flower Festival in Madeira, Portugal is a tribute to spring that celebrates the metamorphosis, rebirth, fertility and the abundance of the flowers that colour and perfume the island and attract thousands of tourists, contributing to the appeal that makes Madeira a great holiday destination.
Held since 1979, the event is filled with colourful floats with hundreds of participants that take part in the most beautiful procession that one can observe in Funchal. Find out more about what to expect from the Madeira Flower Festival, from the 2nd to the 26th of May 2019.
The Festival’s activities
Aside from the floats, you can see people in beautiful costumes and enjoy the music that fills the street. Each day you can expect different activities that follow the flower theme but also express a message of love and respect for nature and people.
On Saturday morning the Children's Parade takes place, in which hundreds of children, dressed for the occasion, parade to Praça do Município to build a beautiful flower mural symbolically named “Muro da Esperança” – Wall of Hope.
This initiative, which has been held for over three decades, combines children’s innocence and the delicacy of flowers in a ceremony that symbolises peace in the world. Each child takes a flower and the ceremony usually ends with doves being released and a children's show.
On Sunday afternoon, the streets of Funchal city centre are once again filled with music, colour and soft aromas, with the magnificent parade of floats, which combines numerous floral species with blooming decorations full of creativity. The Flower Festival Float Parade, held since 1979, is one of the most striking and eagerly anticipated events of the entire festival, known for the magnificence and splendour of the floats and costumes of the hundreds of participants, adorned with numerous magnificent floral species and performing both simple and elaborate choreographies.
The Flower Festival is also a cultural event. Tradition is very present through the performances of folk groups, or through the construction of beautiful floral carpets. At the same time, homage is paid to flowers at the magnificent Flower Exhibition and the city is animated with music concerts and variety shows.
Other activities you can enjoy
- Flower Market: a way to raise public awareness about the countless ornamental and floral species on the island. Visitors and locals can buy them in a picturesque setting.
- Flower Exhibition and Workshops: held in the centre of Funchal, at Praça do Povo. This exhibition is an extension of the exhibit held at the former Ateneu Comercial of Funchal. Here you can find the finest flowers grown with care and devotion, all around Madeira. The flowers on display are judged under various categories and the best are awarded prizes by a panel of experts. Also, at Praça do Povo you can participate in various workshops and crafts exhibits.
- Flower Carpets and Decorations: this traditional creation of flower carpets thrives throughout the island and has its origins in the decoration of religious processions. Due to its undeniable beauty and detail, the flower carpets have been reproduced on the streets for the Flower Festival, contributing to the magnificence of the city’s decorations. These wonderful pieces of floral art are displayed in the central walkways of Avenida Arriaga.
- Madeira Auto Parade: this is an exclusive event that integrates the Flower Festival festivities. Organised by the Association "The Classic Motor Exhibition" - ACME - and the Clube Carocha da Madeira, this enterprise is intended to join both the glamour of classic vehicles and motorcycles, alongside the flowers of Madeira, incorporating one of the largest exhibitions, and national restoration and elegance contests, an opportunity to admire some of the best vehicles and auto parts, which will be on display at Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro.