Other Photos of Madeira Gallery

(Non-Javascript Option)

Crowded streets watch a flower festival float passing, Funchal 2003

Start ¦ Prev ¦ Main ¦ Next ¦ End

One of Funchal's highlights of the year is the The Flower Festival final parade. This spectacular carnival of floats, is documented back to at least 1979. In all those years, it has only been postponed just twice due to inclement weather, once in 1983 and again in 2008. There is an award for the best float and the prize is highly contested by the participants. So much so, that each float now acts as the hub for a display of dance troupes, marching bands and colourfully dressed children and adult attendants. In 2008, over 1,000 participants took part in the parade.