The next main event here on the island of Madeira is …. the Carnival, Mardi Gras or Carnaval 2008. Both locals and island visitors agrees that this is one of the best Carnivals of whole Europe. If you have not seen the Carnaval of Madeira yet … then have a look at the following pictures and judge for your self.

There are two main parades, namely the Allegoric Parade and ‘o Trapalhão‘.

The Grand Carnival Float Pageant or Allegoric Parade (Cortejo Alegórico) takes place on the Saturday of the Carnival weekend, with a total of 1,500 participants … members of numerous Samba groups …. which will compete against each other by giving the best performance and show on the streets of Funchal.

Colours, music, dancing, laughter, singing, erotic and mind-dazzling costumes are a few of their ‘weapons’ to achieve their goal … which is … getting the bystanders and tourists also to dance. It is like Carnival in Rio …. only closer to home!

The second parade is called ‘o Trapalhão‘, which is the Fun Parade in which everybody can take part.

If you have lived or are living on Madeira then this day will amaze you … because you will detect an unknown side of the local people of the island …. in daring and exciting costumes … or creations of their own …. that sometimes you wonder ‘are these the same people I run into each day?‘

Carnaval Trapalhão takes place the same day as the ‘Mardi Gras‘ (French for ‘Fat Tuesday’, meaning Shrove Tuesday) … the Tuesday … the day before Ash Wednesday and ending the Carnaval period.

Both parades take place in the center of Funchal.

The Grand Carnival Float Pageant start at 21h00 … with the participation of eight groups with more than one thousand people (so be on time!).

Route: Starting from the Praça da Autonomia (South side), going along Avenida do Mar and Avenida das Comunidades Madeirenses (Southbound), crossing to the Northbound side (in front of Marina Shopping) then going up Rua Dias Leite, Rotunda do Infante, Av. Arriaga (Northbound side – as far as the Banco de Portugal), Avenida Zarco (Northbound side), Rua Câmara Pestana and Praça do Município where at 11.00 p.m. is the closing of the Grand Carnival Parade.

Carnaval images are property of Madeira Archipelago.com (www.madeiraarchipelago.com)