A Sunny Winter on the Côte d'Azur
The Lemon Festival in Menton, France
In February of 2024, I decided to experience a unique blend of two festivals. While I was at the Carnival in Nice, France, I carved out a day for the extraordinary Lemon Festival in Menton, France. Yes, you read it right, a festival dedicated to lemons and all things citrus! The annual Fête du Citron, from February 17th to March 3rd, 2024, marked its 90th celebration. This year's theme was 'The Olympic Games from Antiquity to the Present Day,' in honor of the summer games in Paris.
Here are a few quick tips from my experience.
I purchased my tickets in advance, as recommended by the official website. My seat was in the Grandstand and cost 29 €. This was an excellent selection, providing a fantastic view and comfort. https://www.fete-du-citron.com/lemon-festival-tickets.html
When you arrive at the bleachers, you'll notice that the letters on the seats align with your ticket, making it easy to find your designated spot.
One crucial piece of advice is to arrive at least two hours before the parade starts. This will give you ample time to fully immerse yourself in the festival's vibrant atmosphere and explore the variety of vendors. Don't worry; they have the mascot, John Lemmon, the dancers as pre-entertainment, and a variety of vendors surrounding the festival.
The festival attracts more than 200,000 people and lasts about two weeks. There are the Golden Parades, the Night-time parades, and the gorgeous Exhibition of citrus patterns in the gardens. You also have the Crafts Fair, the Festival of Orchids, and City Tours. The weather was perfect! It was sunny and about 60°F/15.5°C during the day and would cool off at night to a cozy winter chill.
The city is very walkable, but about five hours before the parades, the city will begin barricading areas surrounding the parade for security reasons.
After the parade, the carnival floats are parked nearby, and you can get an up-close look and admire the detailed organization of the fruit.
The Fête du Citron takes place in the off-season, which means you can get better airfare and hotel rates if you plan and purchase your travel in advance.
I really enjoyed the Citrus Festival and would definitely attend again and stay longer than one day and night. It was the perfect winter warmup to the Olympics for me. Please enjoy my attached YouTube video of the festivities.
Safe Travels and Happy Reading,
Tani
