Highlights of Menton’s Lemon Festival
Alongside the Nice Carnival and the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, it is considered 1 ofthe 3 major events on the Côte d’Azur.
In French, it is called "Fête du Citron", and in English, "Lemon Festival". The French word for lemon is "Citron".
Menton has long been known for its lemons, and at the suggestion of a local hotelier, the first Lemon Festival was held in 1896. Nice Carnival was first organized in 1873, making it 23 years earlier.
The festival format, in which floats parade separately during the day and at night, can be said to have been strongly influenced by the Nice Carnival. However, the fact that the entire floats are decorated with real fruit is unique and has no equivalent anywhere else in the world.
Since it is called the “Lemon Festival,” it is easy to assume that only lemons are used. In fact, oranges make up nearly half of the fruit used, and everything is represented in a two-tone combination of lemon yellow and orange. “Menton Lemon and Orange Festival” might be a name that better reflects reality.
For highlights, dates, tickets, and more information about the Nice Carnival, please see the article below.
Day and Night Parades
Menton’s Lemon Festival features theGolden Fruit Paradesheld during the day and theNight-Time Paradesheld at night.
It has a similar format to the Nice Carnival, but the difference is that, in addition to moving elements that travel like a parade, there are also large-scale venues displaying stationary works. This too has daytime and nighttime sections.
The daytime program is the Exhibition of Citrus Patterns, while the evening program is Gardens of Lights.
The undisputed highlights of the Menton Lemon Festival are the enormous floats and three-dimensional works made from lemons and oranges, unlike anything else in the world.
A theme is chosen each year. One way to enjoy the works is to admire them while trying to guess what inspired each one.
Golden Fruit Parade
The theme is Broadway. It’s probably Simba from The Lion King.
It’s not a lioness, but a cat. It’s probably from Cats.
It is Grease. It was also made into a film starring John Travolta.
This appears to be a French performance group with no direct connection to the theme (Broadway). It resembles both a grasshopper and a longhorn beetle.
I also think this is somewhat unrelated to the theme, but perhaps it could be said to have something to do with King Kong.
An American in Paris. A machine scatters large amounts of confetti.
You might as well accept that confetti will cover your head and body.
Citrus Pattern Exhibition
The Lion King.
Could the deep orange flowers be a type of zinnia?
It is the Eiffel Tower from An American in Paris. As this is a French festival, many motifs from the work were used.
This is Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
For information on Paris’s attractions, food, and transportation, please see the article below.
I thought it was the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris, but "Willkommen" means “welcome” in German. It is the German equivalent of the English "Welcome".
It appears to be the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. I later found out that it is the work Cabaret, set in Berlin in the early 1930s. The signature song of the work is "Willkommen".
This is Menton's mascot. It even has a name of its own.
His name is John Lemon. He earnestly wishes for the world to become one.
Basic Information about the Menton Lemon Festival
The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
- You can check the program, venues, tickets, and transportation information. The 2027 festival runs from February 13 to 28.
Fête du citron®La Fête du Citron® à Menton attire chaque année plus de 250 000 visiteurs. Pendant plus de 15 jours, venez vivre le...www.fete-du-citron.com - 📍 Venue and location
- The exhibitions are held at Jardins Biovès, while the parades take place along Promenade du Soleil. Both are in Menton, France.
- 💶 Admission fees
- For the 2027 Golden Fruit Parade, reserved seats for adults cost 30 euros. Ticket prices and conditions by ticket type are explained in detail in the following section, “Tickets for the Menton Lemon Festival.”
- ⏱️ Duration
- Allow 1–2 hours for the garden exhibits, or half a day if you also plan to watch the parade.⚠️ According to the official guidance, visitors are advised to arrive in Menton before 11 on Sundays with a parade and before 18 on Thursdays.
When the Menton Lemon Festival Takes Place
- 🗓️ Event period
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- 2027 event period February 13–28
- Golden Fruit Parade February 14, 21, and 28 (Sundays)
- Nighttime Parade February 18 and 25 (Thursdays)
- Citrus Pattern Exhibition February 13–28
⚠️ Start times, venues, and content may change, so please check the official program before setting out.
Tickets for the Menton Lemon Festival
- 💶 Golden Fruit Parade prices
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- Reserved seating Adults €30 / groups €25 / children (ages 6–12, proof required) €15
- Standing room on the promenade Adults €16 / groups €15 / children (ages 6–12, proof required) €8
- CMI invalidité cardholders and children under 6 Reserved seating €15; standing room is free
⚠️ Those eligible for free admission still need an entry ticket. The CMI rate applies to holders of a CMI invalidité card indicating a disability rating of 80% and to the accompanying person named on the card.
- 🎫 Tickets and admission
- Capacity is limited, and reservations are required. Book through the ticket purchase link on the official page. The same page has an interactive map showing the entrance for reserved seating or the standing area.
- ⏰ Arrival time
- Admission is not permitted more than 15 minutes after the parade begins. Visitors are advised to arrive in Menton before 11 on Sundays when the parade is held and before 18 on Thursdays.
Getting to Menton’s Lemon Festival
From Nice to Menton, the journey takes about 30–40 minutes by train and about 1 hour by bus. During the festival, take a ZOU! train to Menton station, then walk about 200 m from the station to the Biovès Gardens, where the event is held. Menton-Garavan station is about 3 km from the venue, so Menton station is more convenient when heading to the exhibitions or parades.
Menton’s Lemon Festival is held at the Biovès Gardens and along the Menton seafront. As many cars enter the area during the festival, visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. On Sundays with a parade, visitors are advised to arrive in Menton before 11 a.m., and on Thursdays before 18 o’clock.
