Menton’s popular lemon festival attracts 250,000 visitors each year, but one does not necessarily need a ticket to experience the magic.
For 92 years, the French Riviera town of Menton has been building enormous sculptures out of lemons and oranges. The Fête du Citron uses over 140 tonnes of citrus to create everything from giant pandas to mythical creatures, each fruit placed individually by hand.
This year’s theme, ‘Merveilles du Vivant – Wonders of the Living World’, runs from 14th February to 1st of March. And while the parades demand a ticket to attend, some of the festival’s most unique elements are completely free.
The free experience: Jardins Biovès
The Jardins Biovès host spectacular citrus sculptures throughout the 16-day event, with free access for all visitors. Some displays require up to 15 tonnes of fruit and take thousands of hours to construct.
The official inauguration takes place at 11am on Saturday 14th February. However, for perfect photos without the weekend masses, it’s best to attend during weekday mornings.
Best dates to attend
For the full experience, Thursday 26th February offers the best value. It marks the second night-time parade where illuminated floats glow in the dark, followed by fireworks over Menton Bay at 10:30pm. To make the best out of it, arrival is advised before 6pm in order to explore the free citrus gardens and artisan markets as well.
For families on a budget, Tuesday to Thursday (excluding parade days), provide access to the gardens, free artisan market at Palais de l’Europe, and Menton’s old town charm with significantly fewer visitors.
Workshops range from making citrus-scented candles to cooking ravioli with Menton’s prized IGP lemons – the ones too valuable to use on the festival floats.
Then, for parade enthusiasts Sunday 22nd February offers the middle ground. It’s the second of three Sunday Corsos, when performers have found their rhythm before final-weekend crowds peak. However, it’s advised to book in advance as seated tickets are already nearly sold out.
Programme and tickets
The Corsos des Fruits d’Or, a 90-minute parade of citrus-covered floats accompanied by musical groups, takes place on three Sundays: 15th, 22nd February and 1st March at 2:30pm. Then, night-time parades run on Thursday’s: 19th and 26th February at 9pm.
Standing tickets cost €16, with €8 for children aged 6-12 and free for under 6 year olds. Seated tribune tickets are €30, though availability is limited. Disability cardholders enter for free in standing areas.
After night parades, special SNCF trains run until 11:40pm.
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Main photo credit: Fête du Citron