Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial) — events in Madeira
The village of Faial in Santana celebrates the anona — the custard apple that grows on the north coast — with tastings, anona liqueur and cakes, farming workshops, folk groups and evening concerts. The 35th edition ran 24 February – 1 March 2026; the 2027 edition is expected in the same late-February window.
About Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial)
Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial) is a producers' festival, not a chef showcase. The stalls in Faial, Santana belong to the growers, fishermen and cooperatives themselves — you're buying a plate from the person who grew or landed what's on it, and the recipes are the ones locals actually cook at home.
Bring cash and an empty stomach. Card readers are spreading through the stalls but not universally, and portions are generous enough that grazing three or four of them makes a proper dinner. Weekday evenings are quieter than the weekend.
What to know before you go
- Stay near Faial, Santana if you can — the closest guesthouses go first, and driving in on the day means slow traffic and scarce parking.
- Public transport runs extra services on the main event days, but parking near Faial, Santana becomes very limited — arrive early or plan to walk in.
- Street programming is free. Paid elements — grandstand seats, gala dinners, indoor concerts — release in waves and disappear quickly once the dates are official.
- Photograph early. The best light and the smallest crowds are usually in the first hour of the programme, not the headline slot.
Best time to visit
The main programme runs around February. Arrive a day early to settle in and see the build-up — set-up day is often the most photogenic.
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Frequently asked
When is Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial)?+
Official dates for the next edition of Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial) have not yet been confirmed. It runs annually around February — the organiser typically publishes exact dates 2–4 months before the event. Check back closer to the season, or use the previous edition's window as a planning guide.
How do I get to Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial) and where should I stay?+
Arrive hungry rather than early. The best food appears mid-afternoon once the producers have finished setting up, and the pace stays steady until well after dark.
What's the best day or time to experience Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial)?+
Come mid-afternoon for tastings, stay for the evening cook-offs and live music. Lunchtime is quiet and set-up-heavy; late evening is when the atmosphere lands.
What are the local traditions behind Exposição Regional da Anona (Custard Apple Festival, Faial)?+
The chestnut and apple festivals in the higher parishes are church-and-community affairs: a mass, a procession, a communal lunch of the featured ingredient, then folk music until late. This is village Madeira at its most authentic.
Plan the rest of your trip
The four guides most first-time visitors reach for.