Fête du citron Menton
Lemon Festival 2027

Fête du citron Menton Lemon Festival 2027

The “Fête du Citron” (Lemon Festival) attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year to Menton, a stunning French town sitting on the Italian border between the Alpes Maritimes and the Mediterranean, just thirty minutes from Nice.

• Stay on the seafront at the Hotel Prince de Galles, offering exceptional views, spacious rooms, a private beach and excellent service.

Menton

• Menton is a gorgeous town with a beautiful seafront promenade filled with cute cafes and restaurants. Climb the hills to the old town and take in the sweeping views from the Basilique Saint-Michel.
• Nice to Menton makes a great day trip. It’s a pleasant town that has a slower pace than many destinations on the French Riviera.
• A “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire”, Menton’s old town has a unique atmosphere: narrow cobblestone streets and squares with Baroque charm and Italian touches.

The Festival

• Next Edition: Saturday 13th February to Sunday 28th February 2027.
• For more than 15 days,  enjoy the zest-flavoured Golden parades and Night-time parades (parades of citrus floats animated by groups).
• Admire the Exhibition of citrus patterns in the gardens Biovès, visit the Crafts Fair and explore the Festival of Orchids with unforgettable scents.
• Discover a unique fantasy world.  Awaiting theme for the 2026 edition.
• Discover “Exceptional” rated Bed and Breakfasts in Menton.

The History

• There’s a local fable in the French Riviera that when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, Eve took a lemon with her and buried it in the spot that would become Menton.
• Whether or not you believe the myth, citrus fruit is at the heart of this French seaside town, leaving it awash in golden hues.
• Since the 15th century, the town’s residents have grown citrus trees, benefiting from a unique microclimate, a few degrees warmer than the rest of the Côte d’Azur.
• Menton’s famous lemons differ from other varieties because of their elliptical shape, lack of bitterness, richer colour tones and high-oil rinds that yield a more noticeable scent.
• Visitors can expect to savour citrus jams at breakfast, take limoncello shots at the end of dinner, and walk the streets with lemon gelato in hand.
• For a luxurious stay, book your room at Villa Genesis, a Luxury Collection Hotel rated “Fabulous” by guests with elegant rooms, outdoor pool and high-end amenities.

Corsos Nocturnes – The Night Parades

• Thursday 18th and Thursday 25th February 2027, from 21:00 – Illuminated floats decorated with lemons and oranges parade along the Promenade du Soleil, accompanied by brass bands, musicians, dancers and performers.
• Every year, hundreds of people work on the giant citrus creations, using huge quantities of lemons and oranges to construct the festival’s elaborate displays.
• The night parades are one of the festival highlights, transforming Menton’s seafront into a spectacular illuminated procession.
• The 2027 festival theme is “Douce France”, with floats and performances inspired by French culture.
• The parades begin at 21:00 on the Promenade du Soleil, with a fireworks display closing each evening at 22:30. Visitors are advised to arrive in Menton before 18:00.

Corsos Des Fruits D’or – The Daytime Parades

• Sunday 14th, Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th February 2027, from 14:30 to 16:00 on the Promenade du Soleil in Menton.
• Sunday is a day of celebration. Confetti fills the air as brass bands, folk groups and performers weave between the magnificent citrus-covered floats.
• Tip: It is highly recommended to arrive in Menton before 11:00 for the Sunday parades.
• Hotels fill up fast in Menton, especially during the festival. Many visitors choose to stay in Nice and take the train to the festival.

The Biovès Gardens

• Saturday 13th to Sunday 28th February 2027 – The Biovès Gardens are transformed into a spectacular exhibition of giant citrus sculptures in dazzling shades of yellow and orange.
• Explore elaborate creations, some requiring almost fifteen tonnes of citrus fruit. Thousands of hours of work go into constructing these temporary sculptures each year.
• Saturday 13th February 2027 – The exhibition opens to the public for the first day of the 2027 Fête du Citron.

Key dates:

Date & Time	Event	Venue
Saturday 13th to Sunday 28th February 2027	Citrus Sculptures Exhibition	Jardins Biovès
Sunday 14th February 2027 14:30	Golden Fruit Parade	Promenade du Soleil
Thursday 18th February 2027 21:00	Night Parade	Promenade du Soleil
Sunday 21st February 2027 14:30	Golden Fruit Parade	Promenade du Soleil
Thursday 25th February 2027 21:00	Night Parade	Promenade du Soleil
Sunday 28th February 2027 14:30	Final Golden Fruit Parade	Promenade du Soleil

Getting to Menton

• Menton is located beyond Monaco, right on the border with Italy.
• From Nice, you can get there in half an hour by car (using the highway), or at the same time by train.
• A return train ticket costs €11.

Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action

Hotel Prince de Galles,    Villa Genesis,    Ibis Styles,  Hôtel Miléade L’Orangeraie.