The Flower Festival is the most emblematic and colourful event in Madeira. It gathers thousands of visitors every year and 2023 will be no exception.
The event starts on April 27th, in the centre of Funchal, under the theme “Madeira, the magic of flowers”. With countless activities celebrating spring, the Flower Festival is held until May 21st and it is ideal for anyone looking to experience the magic of this Portuguese island known for its unique nature.
This year, the programme includes 37 concerts, 40 performances by folklore groups, theatre plays and flower workshops, among other activities. Here and now, we will give you a taste of some of the festival’s traditions, as well as the most well-known attractions.
Wall of Hope
It is here that about a thousand children, after the children’s parade, walk through some of the streets of Funchal until they reach Praça do Município to place flowers on the Wall of Hope, in a symbolic call for peace. Accompanied by their parents, uncles or grandparents, tradition dictates that the flower should be picked from the backyards of each child’s home.
As the initiative takes place since 1979, several generations have already taken part in this event that calls for peace and symbolises the purity of children.
Flower Carpet
In this event, linked to religious festivals, the Madeirans “construct” tapestry pieces along the entire procession course.
The path, full of colourful natural flowers, is an image that everyone likes to see and, year after year, the Madeirans have become increasingly involved in this initiative, perfecting the carpets with various patterns and planting specific flowers used only for these celebrations.
The parade and the classics
The dazzling Flower Festival parade holds the attention of many, while the flower floats captivate the public to the sound of ever-joyful musical themes.
This year it takes place on April 30th and on Avenida do Mar. It represents months and months of work by Madeirans to perfect their costumes. If you do not have a ticket (which is free), you should get there early, because the parade has limited attendance.
If you cannot make it, the good news is that you can watch it live via the webcam of the Funchal Marina.
Moreover, the Madeira Flower Classic Car Parade takes place on May 7th, combining the glamour of the classic cars with the colourful Madeiran flowers, thus providing visitors and residents alike with a unique opportunity to admire some of the region’s finest vehicles.
Madeira Flower Collection
At Quinta da Magnólia, May 13th and 14th are dedicated to promoting the regional fashion sector, allowing designers to present their creations with, you guessed it, a flower theme.
It is expected an exhibition of pieces by ten creators which, after the parade, will remain on display to the public until the end of the festival.
These are some of the dozens of activities you can watch/experience in the island of Madeira if you visit between April 27th and May 21st. This year’s edition of the Flower Festival will have the collaboration of around 3,600 people, of which more than 1,700 will parade on 13 floats.
To keep you informed about the event’s programme, here you have the official poster for the Flower Festival, where you can check the timetables, addresses and all the festivities that will take place during almost a month of celebration.
At this time of the year, tourists from all over the world choose the VidaMar Hotels & Resorts Madeira to stay. For 2023, the capacity is almost sold out, but you still have time.
Close to the centre of Funchal and near the airport, the five-star VidaMar Madeira resort has all the facilities for those who want to live this experience to the fullest.
For more information and reservations, contact us at:
vidamarresorts.com
+351 291 717 700
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