Menton, France
Each year, Menton turns lemons into dazzling sculptures, radiant parades, and one of the Riviera's most unforgettable celebrations.
Start the Journey14 February – 1 March 2026 A truly unique event in the world
The Menton Lemon Festival is one of the world’s most unique events, attracting more than 250,000 visitors each year. For over two weeks, Menton becomes a bright celebration of colour, creativity and citrus. Visitors can enjoy the Golden Fruit Parades and night processions, explore the citrus displays in the Biovès Gardens, and discover the craft fair and orchid festival. More than a festival, it is a vivid experience shaped by performance, tradition and local identity.
Popular Destinations
Held in the Biovès Gardens, this exhibition features giant citrus sculptures and vivid designs in yellow and orange. Some installations use nearly fifteen tons of fruit, turning the gardens into one of the festival’s most iconic spaces.
A peaceful and elegant part of the festival, this show brings together orchids, winter plants and refined floral displays. It offers a quieter, more fragrant experience that contrasts beautifully with the energy of the parades.
These daytime parades are the highlight of the festival, with floats covered in lemons and oranges moving through Menton in a burst of colour, music and performance. Dancers, musicians and street groups bring the seafront to life in a joyful atmosphere.
At night, the festival becomes more theatrical, with illuminated citrus floats, music and performers under the stars. The evening ends with a fireworks display, making it one of the most magical moments of the whole event.
A Festival for the Senses
More than an event, Menton is a festival you can see, hear, smell, taste and feel.
Golden floats · Citrus sculptures · Winter light
Bright yellows, glowing parades and oversized creations turn the city into a living stage.
Music · Applause · Parade rhythms
From marching bands to cheering crowds, the streets are filled with movement and sound.
Fresh citrus · Flowers · Sea air
Lemon fragrance meets floral notes and the breeze of the Riviera.
Lemon treats · Local flavours · Southern sweetness
From citrus-inspired bites to regional specialities, the festival carries the taste of the sun.
Warm light · Festive energy · Mediterranean joy
It is a celebration felt in the air, in the crowd, and in every corner of Menton
The Story Behind the Festival
Back in 1929, Menton ranked among Europe’s top lemon-producing towns.
A local hotelier held a flower and citrus show at the Riviera Hotel gardens, which proved hugely popular.
The next winter, the event shifted to town streets, featuring floats adorned with orange and lemon trees.
The official Fête du Citron launched in 1934.
The lemons used in the festival's giant designs do not come from Menton.
The Citron de Menton is PGI-protected, and local production is far too limited for such large displays.
After the festival, many of the fruits are sorted and sold, then turned into juice, jam, or liqueur.
This small local celebration slowly turned into Menton’s signature symbol.
Lemons feature everywhere: parade floats, garden layouts, street ornaments and the town’s unique visual style.
Far more than a seasonal attraction, the festival shows how Menton turned its citrus farming legacy into a cheerful, one-of-a-kind cultural hallmark.
The Significance and Value of the Menton Lemon Festival
Since 1934, the Menton Lemon Festival has become one of Menton's most representative public celebrations and has been recognized by the French Ministry of Culture as part of France's intangible cultural heritage.
On a broader scale, the Menton Lemon Festival is more than a local celebration. The Menton tourist office describes it as an event of international renown, and the city states that it was entered into France's inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2019. Built around the lemon as a symbol of Menton, it turns local tradition into a widely recognizable cultural expression through parades, citrus sculptures, and public displays.
With more than 250,000 visitors and over 15 days of celebration, the Menton Lemon Festival is one of the most influential winter tourism events in southern France.
Official sources show that France is the main visitor market, accounting for 83%, while the festival also attracts international visitors from Europe, North America, and Asia. Supported by a strong domestic base and growing overseas appeal, the festival is not only a major tourism asset for Menton, but also a prominent winter event on the French Riviera.
250,000+
Annual Visitors
15+
Days of Celebration
83%
Domestic Market Share
Visitor Experience
Seven video windows are prepared for the visitor journey. Upload each festival clip later to turn this page into a cinematic walk through Menton.
Arrival
Gardens
Parades
Memory
Craft
Show
Night
Moment
Practical information
Practical information
Considering the significant influx of vehicles going to the Lemon Festival.We encourage you to favor using public transport
The simplest way is to reach Menton via the ZOU ! network (located less than 200 meters from the entrance of our events).During the Sunday parades, it is strongly recommended to arrive in Menton before 11am.Attention! The capacity for motorhomes is limited.
Fête du Citron® (n.d.a) Around the lemon. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (n.d.b) Did you know? Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (n.d.c) Lemon festival history. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026a) Fête du Citron® | Merveilles du vivant. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026b) Program. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026c) Basic information. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Getz, D. (2010) ‘The nature and scope of festival studies’, International Journal of Event Management Research, 5(1), pp. 1–47.
Ministère de la Culture (2019) La fête du Citron de Menton. Paris: Ministère de la Culture.
Ministère de la Culture (2024) Liste exhaustive des éléments inclus à l’Inventaire national du Patrimoine culturel immatériel en France depuis 2008. Paris: Ministère de la Culture.
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.a) Fête du Citron®. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.b) Le citron de Menton. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Quinn, B. (2010) ‘Arts festivals, urban tourism and cultural policy’, Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, 2(3), pp. 264–279.
Timothy, D.J. (2020) Cultural Heritage and Tourism: An Introduction. 2nd edn. Bristol: Channel View Publications.
Ville de Menton (2024) Une année record pour la 90e Fête du Citron®. 6 March. Available at: Ville de Menton official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (n.d.d) Photographies. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (n.d.e) Press and medias. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.c) Espace presse. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.d) Fête du Citron®. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.e) Le citron de Menton. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Ville de Menton (2026) Fête du Citron® 2026 — du 14 février au 1er mars 2026. Available at: Ville de Menton official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026a) Fête du Citron® | Merveilles du vivant. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026b) Program. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (n.d.e) Press and medias. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Fête du Citron® (2026d) Behind the scenes of the Lemon Festival® – morning. Available at: Fête du Citron® official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).
Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles (n.d.c) Espace presse. Available at: Office de Tourisme Menton, Riviera & Merveilles official website (Accessed: 29 June 2026).