Background

MachicoFestivals & Celebrations

  • Mercado Quinhentista
  • Semana Gastronómica
  • Cultural events

Festivals & Celebrations
Mercado Quinhentista (15th Century Fair)

Machico was the first place the intrepid voyagers set foot on the Island, making it the perfect place to host the Mercado Quinhentista.

Organised by Escola Secundária de Machico in partnership with Câmara Municipal de Machico the project counts on the participation of cultural associations, social institutions and schools.

The market is based on the historical recreation of the settlers who lived in the captaincy during the sixteenth century. It aims to value and defend the cultural identity and historical heritage of Machico.

Date: First weekend of June

Festivals & Celebrations
Semana Gastronómica (Food Festival)

Semana Gastronomica is one of the most renowned food festivals on the Island. With more than 30 editions, the festival has grown throughout the years and attracts people from all over the Island.

The festival presents a wide range of regional flavours where the typical dishes of the county are particularly present, such as fish and seafood.

In addition to the flavoursome food, the festival has various types of entertainment and live music.

Date: July to August

Festivals & Celebrations
Festival de Arte e Pesca de Machico (Art and Fishing Festival)

The recently created Festival de Arte e Pesca (art and fishing) takes place at the beginning of July along the promenade next to Praia da Banda d'Além. This festival aims to honor the fishing heritage of the parish and show visitors the culinary know-how of the local eateries.

The four-day event is organized by the local parish council and includes recreational and sporting activities as well as local craft exhibitions.

Date: July

Festivals & Celebrations
Festival do Atum, do Gaiado e do Marisco (Tuna, Skipjack and Seafood Festival)

The Festival do Atum, do Gaiado e do Marisco (Tuna, Skipjack and Seafood Festival) started in 2016 is a unique food festival. Organised by the municipality of Machico, the festival honours the local fishermen and their hard work by tasting the fruits of their labour.

Caniçal is a fishing village and centre of the tuna industry in the region. Skipjack is a species from the tuna family that is traditionally salted and sun-dried. Seafood is also valued in the small parish.

Besides the good regional food, the three-day festival has a diverse program with lots of entertainment and musical shows to boot. It occurs in July in the village of Caniçal.

Date: July

Festivals & Celebrations
Noite do Mercado (Market Night)

Going to the local market is a Christmas tradition part of Madeiran culture. The local Town Hall organises the Market on the Saturday before Christmas. There is food and drink and plenty of entertainment as well as the traditional fruit and veg stalls selling local produce.

The party carries on through the night with music and Christmas spirit.

Festivals & Celebrations
Festa da Uva e do Agricultor (Grape and Farmers Festival)

Festa da Uva e do Agricultor, organised by the Casa do Povo do Porto da Cruz is an event that occurs in September during the annual harvest.

Porto da Cruz is a rural parish with strong winemaking tradition. The festival reflects this tradition and brings excitement and good disposition to the Village.

As with most local events and celebrations, the Festa da Uva e do Agricultor is accompanied by a pleasant programme, attracting the local and visiting population.

Festivals & Celebrations
Feast of Nossa Senhora da Guadalupe

(15th of August)

The Feast of Nossa Senhora da Guadalupe, patron Saint of Porto da Cruz, attracts thousands of people. The feast takes place in August and is an opportunity to reunite with friends and family who return home for the summer.

With a varied program and lots of entertainment, the highlight of the feast is the procession that takes place on the 15th in honour of the virgin.

Festivals & Celebrations
Feast of Nossa Senhora da Piedade

Situated on top of Monte Gordo in Dunas da Piedade, the sky-blue chapel is at the centre of one of the most unique processions on the Island.

Although the patron saint of Caniçal is São Sebastião, the feast of Nossa Senhora da Piedade is experienced wholeheartedly. Legend has it that a group of fishermen ran into trouble out at sea, promising to build a chapel in honour of the saint if they were saved. Miraculously, the fishermen got back to dry land, fulfilling their promise by building Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.

Today, the celebration takes place on the third weekend of September.

This feast attracts people from all over the Island, who year after year accompany the transport of Nossa Senhora da Piedade to Caniçal. The image is taken from the small chapel to one of the beautifully adorned boats that set sail towards the village, eventually returning back to her place in the chapel, making this procession truly unique.

Date: Third weekend of September

Festivals & Celebrations
Feast of Senhor dos Milagres (Machico)

Celebrated for the last 2 centuries, the Feast of Senhor dos Milagres is one of the most important celebration for the people of Machico. After days of heavy rainfall, a devastating flood occurred. About 14 lived were lost and most of the village was destroyed, including Capela dos Milagres.

Senhor dos Milagres Chapel is most likely one of the oldest buildings in Madeira and has a meaningful connection to the discovery of the Island. Legend has it that on the day of the discovery the settlers built an improvised alter. They promised to erect a temple in place of the alter that would later be Capela de Cristo, known today as Senhor dos Milagres Chapel.

The small chapel was destroyed, sending the statue within out to high sea. It was found three days later by an American ship passing by. The statue was taken to the Cathedral in Funchal, returning to it's rightful place at the rebuilt chapel ten years later, on 15th April 1813. Legend has it, that when the boat carrying the saintly figure entered the bay, the church bells began to ring, originating the story of Senhor dos Milagres (Lord of Miracles).

Today, the Feast of Senhor dos Milagres attracts people from all over the Island on a real pilgrimage. The celebration takes place on the 9th of October, the day of the fatal flood and municipal bank holiday. The candle lit procession is the highlight of the celebration.

The 9th of October is a municipal bank holiday in Machico.

Date: 9th of October

Festivals & Celebrations
Religious Calendar

Água de Pena
Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) Last Sunday of June
Santa Beatriz (Saint Beatrice) Last Sunday of July (Patron Saint)
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) First Sunday of August

Bom Caminho
Nossa Senhora do Bom Caminho (Our Lady of the Good Path) Last Sunday of July (Patron Saint)
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) First Sunday of August

Caniçal
São Sebastião (Saint Sebastian) Sunday after 20th January (Patron Saint)
Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Mercy) Third Sunday of September
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) Last Sunday of September

Machico
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) Last Sunday of August
Nossa Senhora da Graça (Our Lady of Grace) Last Sunday of September
Senhor dos Milagres (Lord of Miracles) 9th of October
Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of Conception) 8th of December (Patron Saint)
Piquinho
São José (Saint Joseph) Sunday after 19th of March (Patron Saint)
São Cristóvão (Saint Christopher) Last Sunday of May
Nossa Senhora das Preces (Our Lady of Prayers) Last Sunday of October

Porto da Cruz
Divino Espírito Santo (Divine Holy Spirit) Pentecost May/June
São João Baptista (Saint John the Baptist) 24th of June or Sunday after
Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) 15th of August (Patron Saint)
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) Third Sunday of August
Nossa Senhora do Socorro (Our Lady of Relief) First Sunday of October
Nossa Senhora da Conceição (Our Lady of Conception) 8th of December

Preces
Nossa Senhora das Preces (Our Lady of Prayers) First Sunday of July (Patron Saint)
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) Second Sunday of July

Ribeira Seca
Senhor do Santíssimo Sacramento (Most Blessed Sacrament) Third Sunday of July
Nossa Senhora do Amparo (Our Lady of Protection) Second Sunday of September (Patron Saint)