Madeira May Events

See what’s happening in Madeira Island for the Month of May

São Tiago Menor Festival – May 1st - 3rd
Every year on the 1st of May, the City of Funchal prays tribute to its patron saint São Tiago Menor. This typical Maderian Festival takes place throughout the old part of Town (zona velha), with a traditional procession, great entertainment and music lasting for several days.


Festa do Limão (Lemon Festival) Ilha - Santana May 14 - 16
The Lemon Festival is one of the most important cultural events celebrated in the parish of Ilha in the city of Santana. As always, the Festival will feature its famous regional lemon exhibit, traditional entertainment, food, live music and once more, the famous “Festa do Despique”. The Festival of Despique is a traditional improvised singing challenge, fun and very creative. The idea of this event is to help keep the tradition going for these types of popular songs and others as the xaramba, mourisca, bailinho and the round songs. Some of these types of songs are still present in the Madeiran festivals, in many parts of Island.


Book Fair  – Funchal 20 – 30
The book Fair is an annual event held annually for one week in May in Funchal Avenida Arriaga, it involves the participation of the majority of Madeira’s bookshops and some Portuguese publishing houses including live entertainment. Here you may find stands of great selection of Books for all ages including antique photos of Madeira and much more.


Festa da Cebola (Onion Festival) - May 21- 23
The Onion Festival takes place in the town of Caniço in Padre Lomelino Square (in front of the Church). This popular cultural event has a tradition going back a quite a few years; its principal attraction is the onion parade, with cars very well decorated and the allusive auction of the onion. 
Here visitors can appreciate the onion exhibit, several musical attractions and the opportunity to enjoy several traditional delicacies.



Festas da Sé - Funchal May 28 – June 5
While visiting Madeira Island, take the opportunity and experience a typical Maderian Festival in the centre of Funchal.
The surrounding streets of the Cathedral are beautifully decorated and very crowded. Visitors can enjoy and taste traditional Madeiran drinks and delightful delicacies from restaurants and bars throughout streets of João Tavira, Rua do Bispo, Rua da Queimada de Cima, Rua da Queimada de Baixo and Rua dos Ferreiros.
There is great entertainment, live music, philharmonic bands, folklore dances and constant liveliness happening every day between 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.