
A festival to celebrate lemons? Yes, there is! And believe it or not, this event is as surprising as it is attractive, because it’s so colorful and flavorful! In 2025, it’s already the 91st edition of the Fête du Citron! Hundreds of thousands of people turn out every year to witness this exceptional spectacle! And what about you? Will you be there?
A little history
Every year since 1934, the Fête du Citron de Menton has taken place during the second half of February! And what a festival it is! It’s an event of international stature, attracting some 200,000 visitors every year (just goes to show how many of us love lemons). The festivities began in 1875, when hoteliers in Menton organized a parade to entertain hotel guests on the Côte d’Azur. Even back then, the art of showmanship was in the air!
The lemon, the city’s emblem, made its entry into the carnival in 1929. But it wasn’t until 1934 that the festival officially took the name “Fête du Citron”.
What’s on?
For 2025, the Fête du Citron will take place from February 15 to March 3 under the theme “Journey to the Stars”. An edition that invites us to dream bigger!
Get ready to see parades of corsos (floats decorated with lemons and oranges) that rival the world’s greatest carnivals! These “golden fruit” corsos will rock the city to the rhythm of brass bands and folkloric groups strolling between the citrus floats. They will take place on Sundays February 16, 23 and March 2, 2025, from 2:30 to 4pm. These parades will cross the town between the Promenade du Soleil and Avenue Carnot, perhaps showering spectators with confetti for a colorful spectacle!
But that’s not all! The most original of all are the Jardins Biovès, one of the highlights of the festival! Each year, they are transformed into a veritable open-air museum, with giant sculptures made entirely from citrus fruit. And frankly, it’s spectacular! If you’ve never seen it before, you absolutely must! The exhibition in the Gardens is free and open to all from the inauguration on February 15, 2025 at 11am.
When night falls, the Gardens of Light take over and illuminate the surrounding area, creating a magical and mysterious atmosphere! Although the corsos take place on Sunday afternoons, they are followed by night parades featuring world music. These take place on Thursdays, February 20 and 27, 2025, from 9pm onwards, on the Promenade du Soleil, to admire the yellow and orange floats , magnificently illuminated for the occasion! The evening culminates in a magnificent fireworks display!
The little extra? At the end of each show, a big flower and fruit sale is organized to enable everyone to buy the citrus fruits used for the float decorations. So there’s no waste!
That’s a lot of citrus, isn’t it?
In fact, to organize a festival on this scale, you need a lot more than just 5 fruits and vegetables a day! A total of 140 tons of lemons and oranges are shipped in from all over the world to create the sculptures and decorations. It’s important to know that the Menton lemon is a rare product, protected by an IGP. The citrus fruits used for the festival therefore come from elsewhere! But don’t panic, it’s a responsible event, because at the end of the festivities, these 140 tons of citrus fruits are resold to tourists or Menton residents! So, if you’re in need of citrus, it’s always better than the market!
Do you love art, nature, culture, history and local flavors? Then you’ll love the Fête du Citron, especially as it offers a festive, creative and educational experience!