Madeira September Events
Checkout the special events this month in Madeira Island and Porto Santo; get entertained and take part in the celebrations too!
Madeira Flower Festival – (Children’s parade (Wall of Hope Ceremony and main parade) 2021 (dates to be announced)
Madeira Island welcomes in spring with its dazzling Flower Festival: a highlight of the year, the celebration runs over four days, with beautiful displays of tropical flowers, floral carpets and music. The best-known part of all is the Flower Festival Parade, which starts with the Children’s parade on the Saturday. The climax is the festival's main parade day on Sunday, when hundreds of flower dancers accompanied by huge floral floats parade through the main streets of Funchal. This really is a sight not to miss and a photographer's paradise! Another highlight is the great creative display of tropical flowers by the local Flower growers on the Largo da Restauração. This is the best time of year to discover the beauty of Madeira Island and experience one of the biggest tourist attractions held every year.
Madeira Wine Festival – Funchal & Estreito de Câmara de Lobos – 29th August to 12th September, 2021
Madeira wine festival begins in Estreito de Câmara de Lobos in September with a live grape harvest, picking and processing then followed by a traditional parade.
Funchal centre will be filled with great celebrations, exhibits, folklore groups and street stands serving the famous Madeira wine and traditional food.
Wine Harvest Festival – Porto Santo
The wine harvest in Porto Santo takes place at the end of August, the varieties of grapes produced here grow along the south coast and are mainly for eating but a small part is used to produce Porto Santo wine, it’s taste is pleasant, sweet and powerful and can be sampled in local restaurants and bars.
The Festival includes a public wine making presentation, a chance to taste varieties of wines produced in the island, exhibitions and great entertainment.
Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Festival of Our Lady of Mercy) – Caniçal – 12-13, 2021
Festa da Nossa Senhora da Piedade is a festival dedicated to the fishermen.
Caniçal is one of the oldest religious parishes in Madeira Island and here on the third weekend of September it celebrates the traditional Festival in honour of Our Lady of Mercy (protector of the fishermen). The fishermen with their colourfully decorated boats take part and sail in procession to the small chapel of the Nossa Senhora da Piedade, located on a hill top called Monte Gordo (Fat Mount) near Ponta de São Lorenço. This procession takes place on Saturday; the beautiful decorated boats depart from the port of Caniçal to the port of Quinta do Lorde, two weeks before the event a boat is raffled and chosen to transport the Saint. The boats stop at Quinta do Lorde and participants continue their procession on foot up to the chapel; the statue of Our Lady of Mercy is carried out to the boat and to the village of Caniçal for the celebration. On the next day, Sunday another procession is carried out where Our Lady of Mercy is then returned to the chapel once again by boat. The procession is accompanied by traditional hymns of the devotees and by the music of the home band. Like all other festivals in Madeira Island, there is also great entertainment; traditional Espetada (meat on a spit) and Bolo do caco.
Apple Festival (Festa do Pero) – Ponta do Pargo
Festa do Pêro is a rural event, which takes place in the charming village of Ponta do Pargo, where farmers of several nearby regions get together and successfully transform the Apple harvest into a very lively party. The aromatic quality of the famous apples in this region was so great that some ancient writers have referred it to; ships on the high sea bound for Madeira were able to detect the perfume. This festival consists of a traditional street parade, exhibition, shops, cider tasting and great entertainment.
Columbus Festival – Porto Santo Island – 22-26, 2021
Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island celebrates Christopher Columbus day, with great festivities, exhibits, music and most importantly the great historical parade based on his life’s discoveries and a theatrical recreation of his arrival to Porto Santo.
Mostra da Sidra (Apple Cider Festival) – Santo da Serra
Santo da Serra celebrates the Apple Cider Festival; the event includes an exhibition of Apple varieties and other related products. There will be a small parade and great entertainment. Visitors also get a chance to enjoy Cider sampling, press demonstrations, music and traditional food.
World Tourism Day – Funchal 27th
Madeira Island, a tourist region of excellence, celebrates world Tourism Day; an annual event organized by the Board of Tourism, providing an ideal opportunity to recognize the importance of tourism to the island’s economy, social, cultural and political life. World Tourism Day is celebrated on the 27th September with various events, activities, cultural entertainment and also free admission to many Museums and Gardens.
