Festival do Colombo
On the golden-sanded island of Porto Santo, this costumed heritage festival recreates the era of Christopher Columbus, who lived on the island, with period parades, seafaring displays and historical re-enactments.
Cottages, B&Bs and hotels near Porto Santo, Madeira.
Some stay links are affiliate links. More
Add the free Villagly badge to your own website. It shows visitors you are listed with us and links them straight back to this page.
Get the free badge →Event details come from organisers and can change. Please check with the organiser before you travel.
"Held across nine days in the lush north-coast village of São Vicente, this popular summer arraial combines religious processions, folk music, marchas populares and open-air concerts beneath the dramatic sea cliffs."
Arraial de São Vicente
"In the terraced wine village of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, visitors can tread grapes barefoot in large wooden vats exactly as it has been done for centuries, while local quintas open their doors for folk music and wine."
Vindima ao Vivo no Estreito de Câmara de Lobos
"Organised by the Casa do Povo in Madeira's westernmost village, this rural apple festival brings together farmers from across the municipality for live apple-crushing, folk dancing, tastings and cookery workshops."
Festa do Pero
"In the old whaling village of Caniçal, fishermen honour their patron by sailing a flotilla of boats along Madeira's south-east coast in a unique seaborne procession, with the entire community aboard free of charge."
Festa de Nossa Senhora da Piedade
"Deep in Madeira's Valley of the Nuns, this chestnut harvest festival, the oldest of its kind in Portugal dating to 1983, fills the mountain village of Curral das Freiras with roasted chestnuts, poncha, a colourful allegorical parade of over 350 costumed figures, and traditional music."
Festa da Castanha
"In the clifftop fishing village of Câmara de Lobos, this long-running festival celebrates the fearsome black scabbardfish hauled up from hundreds of metres below the Atlantic, with live show-cooking, tasting sessions and folklore performances."
Festa Gastronómica do Peixe Espada Preto