The Flower Festival in Madeira is an annual event that celebrates the island’s natural beauty and abundance of flowers. The festival takes place in the spring, when the island is in full bloom and bursting with colour. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Flower Festival and what visitors can expect in 2023.

The 2023 Flower Festival in Madeira is scheduled to take place from April 28th to May 22nd. The festival is a vibrant celebration of the island’s flowers, and it’s a highlight of the cultural calendar in Madeira. The festival includes a variety of events, including flower markets, exhibitions, concerts, and parades.

The centrepiece of the Flower Festival is the Flower Parade, which takes place on the final day of the festival. The parade is a dazzling display of colour and creativity, with floats decorated with thousands of flowers winding through the streets of Funchal, the capital city of Madeira. The parade is a favourite among locals and visitors alike, and it’s a must-see event for anyone visiting Madeira during the festival.

In addition to the Flower Parade, there are several other events that take place during the festival. One of the highlights is the Flower Exhibition, which is held in the Largo da Restauração in Funchal. The exhibition features a variety of floral displays and arrangements, including a competition for the best flower arrangement.

Another popular event is the Children’s Parade, which takes place a week before the main Flower Parade. The Children’s Parade is a fun and colourful event that showcases the creativity and enthusiasm of young people in Madeira.

Visitors to the Flower Festival can also enjoy a variety of flower markets and street performances throughout the city. These events provide a festive atmosphere and offer a chance to purchase locally grown flowers and other products.

Overall, the Flower Festival in Madeira is a unique and unforgettable experience that celebrates the island’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. The festival is a great opportunity to experience the island’s vibrant atmosphere and to see some of the world’s most stunning flowers in full bloom. So, if you’re planning a trip to Madeira in the spring, be sure to check out the Flower Festival and join in the celebration of this remarkable island.

Programme 2023

The Flower Festival is a cultural event associated to the local traditions, whether through the performances of folk groups, or through the construction of the beautiful floral carpets, an event filled with lots of entertainment activities, such as music concerts and variety shows, to be held from April 27th to May 21st, 2023.

“Wall of Hope”
On Saturday morning fulfilling a tradition which goes back to 1979, this year’s edition presents a group of children escorted by their parents, who will place a flower on a beautiful mural called “Wall of Hope”, in a symbolic calling to global Peace.  

Allegoric Parade On Sunday afternoon, the streets of downtown Funchal are once again filled with music, colour and soft perfumes with the sumptuous parade of floats that harmoniously combine multiple floral species with decorations full of creativity. The Allegorical Flower Parade, is one of the main highlights of this event, taking place since 1979. This parade is highlighted by the magnificence and sumptuousness of its float’s intricacy decorated with magnificent flowers, and the lovely costumes worn by the hundreds of participants, mostly children parading to the sound of cheerful musical themes and performing choreographies either simple or elaborated.

Other activities integrated in this event:Flower and Regional Flavours Market 

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 – Av. Arriaga central walkways

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.

Wall of Solidarity Ceremony – Praça do Povo

Participation of seniors from various institutions of social solidarity  

Performances by “Flower groups”

Similarly, to last year’s edition, the groups that usually participate in the Flower allegorical parade, will present their costumes and choreographies performing in two different venues namely at Praça CR7 and Heliport. These shows are held over the course of two weekends, in a tribute to flowers, a celebration of beauty and joy featuring a lively and festive atmosphere. The tickets are free and should be collected in the information desk at Avenida Arriaga. There is a maximum capacity for attending these concerts.

Flower Concerts

Integrated in the Flower Festival programme, four concerts are held in emblematic venues 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.

Madeira Flower Collection – Venue: Quinta Magnólia

This event aims to promote the regional fashion sector, engaging a wide number of creators inspired by the flowers, therefore bestowing a touch of contemporaneity and “glamour” to one of the greatest tourist attractions of Madeira, in a unique touristic entertainment moment. This event presents original fashion creations by various local designers.

Floral Installations

The diversity of Madeiran flora contributed, greatly, to the establishment of these artistic manifestations, which combine the beauty of flowers with the characteristic elements of Madeiran tradition and culture. The floral sculptures are a great contribution to the magnificence of city decorations, whose careful construction is shared and admired by our visitors. These wonderful facilities will be displayed on Avenida Sá Carneiro, at the entrance to the Cais do Funchal and next to the Legislative Assembly of Madeira on the last weekend of the Flower Festival.

Madeira Classic Car Revival

This event takes place at Praça do Povo, on the last weekend of May, and is organized by the Classical Car Club of Madeira, aiming to show and award the best and most elegant old and classic vehicles of the Region, contributing to the disclosure of the historical diversity and richness of this broad car park, within a lively environment created for this purpose.