Madeira Events News  Useful Information   

Madeira Wine Rally is the greatest automobile event in Madeira Island. This FIA european championship attracts many international rally pilots. Local people are keen for this event though sometimes some local drivers exceed speed thinking they are running the rally... Though Madeira Wine Rally is not only a racing but also touristy event we recommend people to pay attention to road closures and for the spectators, chose the best place to watch the rally putting your safety on the top of the list!

Let's make this event great for everyone, you just need to follow the rules!

Madeira Culture & Entertainment  Madeira Events News   

1 July - Day of the Region - Bank holiday in Madeira Islands.
The political Autonomy of Madeira, established in the Portuguese Constitution of 1976, is commemorated around the island. This day is celebrated with several activities as: Cannon fire in the morning; Ceremony in the Regional Assembly; Placing of flowers at the Autonomy Statue by the Region’s officials; Te Deum in the Cathedral.

3 to 5 July - Funchal Jazz - Funchal
Jazz concerts will take place in Quinta Magnolia gardens where international well known musicians will be performing. Other jazz entertainment performances are programmed for a number of bars and hotels in the city.

3 to 6 July - The Sea Week - Porto Moniz
For several days, the seafront of Porto Moniz, including the famous natural pools, shall be the stage for several types of nautical activities, such as sports competitions and revelry, bringing together population from all over the Region.

4 to 6 July - Regional Folklore Festival - 48 hours dancing - Santana
This unusual festival brings together all regional folklore dancing groups who perform throughout 48 consecutive hours, in Santana city. This is also a good opportunity to try a variety of gastronomic specialties, culture and traditions of this council. There are outdoor stands where food and drink is served, in a very lively atmosphere.

11 to 13 July - 53rd Livestock and Agribusiness Fair - Porto Moniz
Organised for the first time in 1955 in order to encourage development of animal rearing, this has become a rural event of particular importance to the Region. Various exhibits of animals and objects related to local farming are available for visitors to see in Santa - Porto Moniz. This takes place in a rural environment, and there are many outdoor stands providing home-made bread, espetada (meat roast on the spit) and drinks.

19 to 20 July - 5th Regional Banana Exhibition - Madalena do Mar
The parish of Madalena do Mar is the venue for the Regional Banana Exhibition. This event, with several forms of revelry, is held in honour of one of the most important local agricultural products: the Madeira banana.

20 July - 5th Traditional Madeira Fishing Boat Regatta - Funchal
Funchal bay will be the scenery for the 5th Traditional Madeira Fishing Boat Regatta, which will start at 4 pm. The regatta course starts at Funchal pier and ends in Barreirinha, in the old part of the city. This annual event brings together “sea folk” from and outside the city and is part of the commemorations marking the 500th anniversary of Funchal city.

23rd July - Madeira International Athletics Meeting - Ribeira Brava
This is an athletics event, promoted by the Athletics Association of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. It is held in the Madeira Sports Centre, located at Ribeira Brava, on the West Coast.

23 to 26 July - Roots of the Atlantic (Raízes do Atlântico) Festival - Funchal
This is a traditional music festival with the participation of national and international artists within the area of World Music, as well as the best groups of traditional music from Madeira. The festival shall take place at the Municipal Garden auditorium in Funchal, with concerts starting at 9:30 pm every day.

31 July to 2 August - Madeira Wine Rally
This is one of the most important trials of the European Championship, and the most important sport event in the region. World-famous rally drivers bring their cars to this competition. Thousands of people fill the mountain slopes in order to find a good spot to watch the cars speeding.

Source: Madeira Tourism Board Newsletter

Madeira Events News   

Photo by: BMW Club Madeira

Madeira Classic Cars week started last weekend with a general exhibition. During this week several antique cars will be in exhibition in Avenida Arriaga, downtown Funchal. Each day there will be different models of classic cars from the same brand, so you can pass here everyday and you will always observe different cars.

By the end of June Madeira Island will held the Madeira World Classic Rally 2008. On the 23rd of June, between 10 am and 6:30 pm you may try to see the arrival of foreign competitor's cars and between the 25th and the 28th of June these colorful relics will be riding through Madeira Island roads.

Madeira Culture & Entertainment  Madeira Events News   

From the 5th to the 28th of June 2008

5th
9:30 pm – Viktoria Postnikova concert at Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

6th
9:30 pm – Madeira Classical Orchestra concert at Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

7th
From 5 to 10 pm – Funchal and Ribeira Brava Municipal Bands performance in Funchal downtown

10:30 pm – Musical Fireworks Show on the outside pear of Funchal harbour (20 minutes duration) - Italia performance "Capriccio Italiano"

12th
9:30 pm – The Hilliard Ensemble concert at Colégio Church

13th
Exhibition of miniatures classic cars at Infoart gallery in Madeira Tourism office, Avenida Arriaga
Classic Cars exhibition in Avenida Arriaga

Saint Johns festivities at Rua da Figueira Preta, Rua da Conceição, Travessa dos Reis, Praça do Carmo and Rua da Cooperativa
From 7 to 8 pm – Ensemble de Clarinets Concert/show by the Artistic Education Office in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

14th
From 5 to 10 pm – Funchal and Ribeira Brava Municipal Bands performance in Funchal downtown

10:30 pm – Musical Fireworks Show on the outside pear of Funchal harbour (20 minutes duration) - Poland performance "Pyromagic"

15th
From 5 to 6 pm – Consort Bisel Concert/Show by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

6 pm – Ecclesia Concert at Baltazar Dias Municipal Theatre

16th
From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

17th
From 7 to 8 pm – Si Que Brade Concert/Show by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

18th
From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

19th
From 7 to 8 pm – New Sounds Trio Concert/Show by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

9:30 pm - Arabe concert with organ in Santa Clara Church

20th
From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

From 7 to 8 pm – Bandolins Orchestra Concert/Show by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

9:30 pm - National Dancing Company Show at Casa das Mudas Art Centre in Calheta

21st
From 5 to 10 pm – Funchal and Machico Municipal Bands performance in Funchal downtown

From 6 to 7 pm – Metals Quintet Concert/Show by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

6 pm - National Dancing Company Show at Casa das Mudas Art Centre in Calheta

10:30 pm – Musical Fireworks Show on the outside pear of Funchal harbour (20 minutes duration) - France performance "Chansons d’Amour"

22nd
From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

From 6 to 7 pm – Regina Pacis Vocal Ensemble by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

23rd
From 7 to 8 pm – Accordion's Orchestra by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

9 pm - Saint John's Parade starting at São Pedro Church and going through Rua das Pretas, Rua da Carreira and Rua de São João

24th

From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

From 7 to 8 pm – Guitar's Ensemble by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

25th
From 2 to 7 pm – Funchal Municipal Band performance in Funchal downtown

From 7 to 8 pm – Accordion's Ensemble by the Artistic Education Office group in the North Garden of Palácio de São Lourenço (Av. Arriaga)

26th
9:30 pm - L’Assemblée des H. Curieux performance at Colégio Church

27th
Segréis de Lisboa (Manuel de Morais) show in Palácio de São Lourenço

28th
From 5 to 10 pm – Funchal and Recreio Camponês Municipal Bands performance in Funchal downtown

10:30 pm – Musical Fireworks Show on the outside pear of Funchal harbour (20 minutes duration) - Portugal performance "A new beat for Fireworks"

Madeira Events News  Madeira Traditions   

The city of Funchal pays homage to its Patron, St James the Less, every year on the 1st of May. The Old Town of Funchal and particularly Santa Maria Street and Corpo Santo Square experience a special kind of revelry, in a party depicting a typical Madeira arraial.

St James the Less is the Patron Saint and the Health Guardian of Funchal. Since 1538, when authorities handed over the guard of the city’s inhabitants health to St James the Less, there has been the upholding of the tradition of honouring the saint with the Voto da Cidade Procession, which parades through the streets of Funchal's Old Town up to Socorro Church.

Together with this event, a popular festivity also takes place throughout the Old Town: Corpo Santo Square, Santa Maria Street and the surrounding areas are particularly bedecked for this calebration which brings to special animation to this location lasting 4 days.

Source: Madeira Tourism Board