Carnival in Madeira - 4-day itinerary

Carnival in Madeira - 4-day itinerary

Carnival time in Madeira is the ideal event for anyone who enjoys a bit of fun and mischief. It takes place over two weeks and the theme varies from year to year, but it always comes wrapped in beauty, dreams and fantasy.

Find out what you can't miss on this 4-day itinerary:

 

Friday: Parade of primary schools on Avenida Arriaga

During Carnival, this avenue is filled with caricature decorations, food and drink stalls, entertainment and fun. There are shows with clowns, magic, theatre, masked characters and a host of music concerts.

On Friday morning, between 10.00 am and 12:30 pm, the primary schools creative parades take place. Hundreds of children, accompanied by their teachers, have fun in their costumes. The procession starts next to the Cathedral and proceeds along Avenida Arriaga.

 

*this activity has been postponed until February 16th

Saturday: Night of the Great Float Parade

The atmosphere is full of vivacity, music and dancing. It is believed that this tradition dates back to before the 1970s. Currently, there are more than a dozen troupes and floats and thousands of participants in a procession of dancing and playing musical instruments - drums, rattles and trumpets!! The music, the bright costumes, the choreographed dances (rehearsed over several weeks) and the decoration on the floats are packed with wonderful surprises.

 

You can watch the parade sitting in the stands (paid) or on the pavement (free), but it's best to arrive at least an hour in advance to guarantee a place in the front row. The Great Float Parade starts at around 8.00 pm, at Rotunda Harvey Foster. It runs along Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro and Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses, and ends at Praça da Autonomia, just 450 metres away from the Porto Santa Maria hotel. Take the opportunity to put on your best costume, as the fun continues in the city's bars, clubs and hotels. After all, it's Saturday night and everyone is dancing a "Portuguese samba".

Monday: “Sorrisos de Fantasia” troupe show in Porto Santa Maria

At the Arsenal restaurant, there will be a parade by the Sorrisos de Fantasia troupe, followed by a Samba Show at 8.00 pm. If you didn't have the opportunity to see the great float procession, you'll get a small taste of this exclusive parade!!

 

The "Sorrisos de Fantasia" troupe will also pass by The Cliff Bay hotels on the 15th at 8:30 pm, on the 16th at the Avista restaurant, at the Les Suites at The Cliff Bay hotel, at 9:30 pm and, finally, on the following day, February 17 at Vila Porto Mare at 9:00 pm.

 

Tuesday: Clumsy Procession in Funchal

In the afternoon, you can watch the Clumsy Procession in Funchal, an improvised parade with free participation. The focus is on satire, where everyone is free to express themselves either through disguises or through messages written on the floats. It starts at 4.00 pm, on Avenida Francisco Sá Carneiro and ends at Praça da Autonomia.

To experience the Carnival with more flavour, be sure to try "Sonhos" and "Malassadas", two sweet delicacies typical of the Madeira Carnival, made of flour and eggs, accompanied by delicious sugar cane honey.

 

Come and experience the joy of the Carnival in Madeira!! We look forward to seeing you soon!