Time to have a new years eve to remember!
In 2006, the Guinness Book of Records named Madeira Island's fireworks display "The World's Largest Fireworks Display".
The approximately eight-minute fireworks display is spread over several fireworks sites in Funchal's Amphitheatre Bay.
I'm honestly not a big fan of fireworks, but New Year's Eve in Funchal is indeed something very special:
In 2006, the Guinness Book of Records named Madeira Island's fireworks display "The World's Largest Fireworks Display".
The approximately eight-minute fireworks display at the turn of the year 2021/2022 is spread over 59 fireworks sites in Funchal's Amphitheatre Bay, between Pier 8 and Almirante Reis beach on the sea, and on Porto Santo Island .
Last year around the Avendida do Mar squares were drawn on the ground to visually indicate the safety distance. We went to Pico di Cruz from where we had a great view over the whole harbour. But it was not really empty there either 😉!
Today there is supposed to be a surprise at 23:40 Madeira Shooting Stars, which will take place in the sky above the bay of Funchal.
Here are some more events you can visit over New Year's Eve:
Light and Sound Shows Every day Rua Câmara Pestana | Rua Fernão de Ornelas | Avenida Sá Carneiro 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Funchal’s pier Held every 30 minutes after 6 p.m. Christmas in Funchal gains more colour and light as from the 1st of December. In several of the city's main streets, dazzling shows of colour and light related to Christmas, take over several roads, alternating between tunnels and dances, bringing more joy and emotion to this season. Various performances - Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga From the 1st of December 2021 to the 9th of January 2022, downtown Funchal is filled with light, colour and melody. During this period, along the Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga there are daily performances by various groups which animate this location with philharmonic bands, folklore groups and concerts. Christmas Market - Central Walkway of Avenida Arriaga Schedule Sunday to Thursday 10 a.m. – midnight Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. 23, 30 and 31 December 10 a.m. – 2 a.m. Made up of several small houses with Christmas decorations, at the Christmas Market you can find the most diverse regional products such as regional gastronomy characteristic of the Christmas season, as well as plants, fruits, Madeira wine, sugarcane syrup and its derivatives. The Christmas Market can be found along the Central Walkways of Avenida Arriaga. Ethnographic Village - Largo da Restauração Located at Largo da Restauração, the Ethnographic Village represents various live traditions, handicrafts, gastronomy, folklore and two traditional nativity scenes, thus promoting Madeiran culture. The traditional Madeiran nativity scene, located on the outside, reproduces our humanised and natural landscape, with its vegetation, terraces, valleys, riverlets, houses and stone sheds, as well as the staircase nativity scene or lapinha with characteristic elements (boy Jesus, arch, fruit, wheat, small breads, amongst others). At this venue you can also find the traditional wheat soup and the bolo do caco bread. Nativity Scene Twelve fibre figures are integrated in a traditional scene, with decorative objects, fabrics and flowers, predominantly in white and gold. The nativity scene gathers trees and a large panoply of regionally produced flowers and plants which makes up the setting, as well as a small house made of wood and mats, depicting the birthplace of Baby Jesus. Madeira Embroidery and Regional Crafts Pavillion An exhibition by the Madeira Wine, Embroidery and Handicrafts Institute (IVBAM). A space where you can see and purchase embroidery and regional crafts on specific days. You can also taste Christmas delicacies with Madeira Wine. Paradise Circus – Praça do Povo - December 27th to 29th (Cancelled) Circus Arts Show 31 December Madeira Shooting Stars (11:40 p.m.) For the magical New Year's Eve, Red Bull has prepared a surprise which will take place in the sky over Funchal Bay.
"Cantar os Reis" (Singing of the Kings) - Municipal Garden - 5 January (9 p.m) After the New Year's Eve festivities, the celebrations continue until mid-January. During this period, masses in praise of Baby Jesus are celebrated and, in many homes, the nativity scene is still mounted. The Arrival of the Three Kings is celebrated on the 6th of December with the famous Bolo-Rei which has a broad bean and a small gift inside. Tradition says that, whoever finds the slice containing the broad bean will have to buy the cake the following year and whoever gets the gift will have to buy the drinks. In the auditorium of the Municipal Garden, on the 5th of January, at 9 pm, the “Kings” are sung in a concert open to the public thus reviving this Madeiran tradition.