Groups with thousands of participants flood the main streets of Funchal with music and contagious enjoyment.

This is a week of healthy madness that invades the hotels, bars and clubs, turning them into permanent parties. In an atmosphere of effusive revelry there are surprising examples of creativity and imagination and there is no shortage of daring caricatures in the Cortejo Trapalhão costume parade on Shrove Tuesday.

CARNIVAL 2010

Provisional Programme

Theme: Seas and Oceans

5 February, Friday
18:00 - Exhibition: The Caneca Furada in the Madeira Carnival - in the Infoarte space at the Regional Secretariat of Tourism and Transport

10 February, Wednesday
The start of:
- Background carnival music in the lower town
- Seasonal illuminations and decorations

12 February, Friday
Festivities in the Lower Town
10:30 - 12:00 - Children's Carnival Party - Central Square of Avenida Arriaga, featuring the Puppet Theatre Group
11:00 - 16:00 - Marching Band
15:00 - 17:30 - "Carnival Solidarity" organised by the Funchal Community Development Association:
- Parade in the Central Squares of Avenida Arriaga
- Party in the Municipal Garden
15:00 - 20:00 - Marching Band
16:30 - 19:30 - Carnival Party Band

13 February, Saturday
Festivities in the Lower Town
10:00 - 13:30 - Carnival Party Band
10:00 - 15:00 - Marching Band
15:00 - 20:00 - Marching Band
19:30 - 23:00 - Puppet Theatre Group on the route of the Float Parade
20:50 - 21:00 - Fireworks
21:00 - Carnival Float Parade

Route: Departing from Praça da Autonomia (south side), Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses (southbound lane), crossing to the northbound lane (opposite the Marina Shopping Centre) and going up Rua Dias Leite, Infante Roundabout, Avenida Arriaga (northbound lane - as far as Banco de Portugal), Avenida Zarco (northbound lane), Rua Câmara Pestana and Praça do Município.

Themes of the groups taking part in the Float Parade

- "Treasure Island" - Veteranos da Folia
- "Divinities of the Sea" - Os Cariocas Samba School
- "Nymph Fantasies" - Associação de Animação Geringonça
- "The Portuguese Sea" - Associação Fura Samba
- "The Sea and Piracy" - Caneca Furada Samba School
- "The Revelry of the Ocean" - Turma do Funil
- "The Delights of the Sea" - João Egídio Andrade Rodrigues
- "Secrets of the Sea" - Fábrica de Sonhos

22:00 - Carnival Music Show, at Praça do Município

14 February, Sunday
Festivities in the Lower Town
10:00 - 15:00 - Marching Band
15:00 - 20:00 - Marching Band
15:30 - 18:30 - Puppet Theatre Group
16:00 - 20:00 - Carnival Party Band
21:00 - 23:00 - Carnival in the Avenues - With entertainment by:
- Associação Fura Samba - Entrance to the Town Pier
- Caneca Furada Samba School - Square opposite the Municipal Theatre and the Tourist Office
- Os Cariocas Samba School - Square opposite the Cathedral (Sé)

15 February, Monday
Festivities in the Lower Town
10:00 - 19:00 - Carnival Party Band
10:00 - 15:00 - Marching Band
15:00 - 18:00 - Puppet Theatre Group
15:00 - 20:00 - Marching Band
21:00 - Carnival Music Show, in the Central Square opposite the Tourist Office

16 February, Tuesday
16:00 - Slapstick Parade, open to all.

Route: Departing from Praça da Autonomia (south side), Avenida do Mar e das Comunidades Madeirenses (southbound lane), crossing to the northbound lane (opposite the Marina Shopping Centre) and going up Rua Dias Leite, Infante Roundabout, Avenida Arriaga (northbound lane - as far as Banco de Portugal), Avenida Zarco (northbound lane), Rua Câmara Pestana and Praça do Município.

17:30 - Carnival Music Show, at Praça do Município

Programme subject to change