Madeira Flower Festival 2021

“Madeira is a garden”
Madeira Island is known as a garden, because of the beautiful flowers that envelop the landscape providing a breath-taking view.

Spring has arrived and with it comes the most popular Festival in Madeira, The Flower Festival. This year, the festival will take place between the 1st and 24th of october, and it’s a great reason to come and visit this amazing island in the Atlantic Ocean.

It’s a season full of exciting colours and astonishing flowers decorating our treasured city. With carpets made of flowers, and colourful parades that really catch the eye of our visitors. Many floral species originating in many parts of the world blossom in Madeira, as the island meets specific climatic conditions that allow species from tropical or cold regions to flourish.

The Festival has been celebrated for over 60 years! It all started in 1954 when it took place for the first time, “Festa Da Rosa” ( which means Rose Festival) in Ateneu Comercial do Funchal, this party had a ball to celebrate the beginning of spring, as well as a flower exhibition, where the local producers were invited to share their best flowers. It was very successful, and from then on they keep on doing it every year. Until 1979, when the Madeiran Tourism Authority decided to make an outdoor festival with the locals and turn it into a tradition in a way to enhance the value of flora and to boom the tourism industry. Making one of the most colourful Portuguese traditions that returns to embellish the streets of Funchal.

New practices were being added throughout the years - the allegorical parades, the Wall of Hope Ceremony and other associated contests began to take place, such as the best-decorated showcase.

“Mural da Esperança”– The Wall of Hope on the 2nd of October
Consists of more than a thousand children carrying a flower in their hand through a route between Avenida Arriaga and Praça do Município, ending with offering their flowers in order to appeal for world peace.

“Cortejo da Flor” - Flower Parade on the 3rd of October
    This parade counts with more than 1000 participants, its vibrant colours and stunning dresses are made with the most beautiful flowers from the region as well as from different parts of the world. Parading along a planned route to the sound of festive musical themes and performing both simple and elaborate choreographies.

“Exposição da Flor” – Flower Exhibition from the 10th to 24th of October
An old tradition permits the admiration of outstanding examples of local flowers, which are evaluated by a jury. In nowadays, takes place in Praça do Povo in Funchal centre, and there are also several workshops and crafts exhibit.

Flower Market
This is where visitors and locals can buy those flowers in attractive scenery. The flower market contributes to raising public awareness of the innumerable ornamental and floral species on the island.   

Flower Carpets and Decorations
The flower carpets are one of the first images coming to our mind when we think about Madeira Flower Festival. They are esteemed by the tourist and the locals, indeed!
These carpets were initially created for decorations in religious festivals, though the all different parishes of Madeira. In the past several years, they have been reproduced on the streets for the Flower Festival, in Avenida Arriaga.
Here you will be able to find different activities during this season and be able to be stunned by this work of art, full of details and incontestable beauty.

Madeira Flower Collection on 16th and 17th of October
In order to promote the regional fashion sector, 10 Madeiran fashion creators will work together to present three different outfits inspired by a unique chosen flower.
Those outfits full of colour, life and glamour will be presented in Praça do Povo on a Runway, at about 6 PM. And will stay on exhibition until the end of the Festival.

This is perfect time to visit Madeira, known for its spectacular nature, its rich culture and the sincere hospitality of its people. Come along and you will fell in love with this superb Island!