The Flower Festival is a tribute to spring, and the celebration of metamorphosis and rebirth, fertility and the abundance of the flowers that colour, perfume and inebriate the surrounding environment and that give value thus contributing both to this event and Madeira´s notoriety across borders. Find out more about what to expect from the Madeira Flower Festival, which will take place from 3rd to 27th of September.
The Flower Festival is also a cultural event. Tradition is particularly associated with the event, whether through the performances of folk groups, or through the construction of the 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.
“Wall of Hope Ceremony” – September, 5th – Saturday
On Saturday morning the Children’s Parade takes place, in which thousands of children, dressed for the occasion, parade to Praça do Município to build a beautiful flower mural symbolically named “Wall of Hope”.
This initiative, which has been held for over three decades, combines childhood innocence and the delicacy of flowers in a ceremony calling for peace in the world. Each child takes a flower and the ceremony usually culminates with a release of doves and a children’s show.
Allegorical Parade – September, 6th – Sunday
On Sunday afternoon, the streets of Funchal city centre are once again filled with music, colour and soft aromas, with the sumptuous float parade, which harmoniously 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, for tourists and residents alike. This event is known for the magnificence and splendour of the floats and costumes of the thousands of participants, mostly children, richly adorned with numerous, varied and magnificent floral species, parading along a planned route to the sound of festive musical themes and performing both simple and elaborate choreographies.
Flower and Regional Flavours Market – September 3rd to 27th
The flower market allows the public to get to know the countless floral and decorative species that exist in Madeira. Here, locals and visitors can buy flowers in a picturesque and traditional environment. Besides the flowers, the regional flavours will be present through the local gastronomy and typical drinks.
Flower Exhibition
The Flower Exhibition takes place in the city centre of Funchal, more specifically at Praça do Povo. It is a continuation of the exhibition that took place at the Commercial Ateneo of Funchal, which began in the fifties of the last century. The most beautiful specimens of the most varied types of flowers produced throughout Madeira can be appreciated and evaluated, developed with all the affection and dedication of their growers. The flowers on display are evaluated in their various categories and distinguished by a specialized jury.
Floral Carpets and Decorations
The profusion of Madeira’s flora has greatly contributed to the establishment of this artistic expression. This tradition of building floral carpets proliferates throughout the island and originated in the decoration of religious processions. Thanks to their unquestionable beauty and detail, for some years now, flower carpets have been on display in the streets on the occasion of the Flower Festival, constituting, along with the floral sculptures, a great contribution to the magnificence of city decorations, which careful construction is shared and admired by tourists who visit us. These wonderful pieces of floral art occupy the central pedestrian plaques of Avenida Arriaga.
Flower Concerts – September 24th to 27th
Integrated in the Flower Festival programme four concerts are held in emblematic gardens of the island of Madeira with the purpose of decentralizing the festivities and strengthening the entertainment offer.
These concerts take place in an environment with a unique atmosphere, where the public – tourists and residents – can enjoy high quality musical moments in a setting of unique beauty, surrounded by the diversity of Madeira’s flora.
Floral Installations
The diversity of Madeira’s flora has greatly contributed to the establishment of these artistic manifestations, which combine the beauty of the flowers with the characteristic elements of Madeira’s tradition and culture. The floral sculptures are a great contribution to the magnificence of city decorations, which careful construction is shared and admired by our visitors. These wonderful installations will be on display at Avenida Sá Carneiro, at the entrance to the Funchal Quay and next to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira on the last weekend of the Flower Festival.