Lemon Festival - Menton French Riviera

From February 17th till March 7th, 2012

The Parade of Golden Fruit

A multicoloured festival under the sun! The town comes alive on Sunday mornings, when coaches and cars dance through the streets, an endless farandole of people swaying down the alleyways to the sea. Laughter and joy shine from happy faces everywhere.

Today is a holiday! A wide-eyed child stares in wonderment at the confetti showering from the sea blue sky… Creative masks and sumptuous costumes abound; fanfares twirl and zigzag through the citrus-laden floats to the sound of traditional drums.

Date		Sundays 19th, 26th and 4th march 2012 at 2.30pm
Place		Promenade du soleil

Moonlit Parade

The fruits of the sun have a date with the moon…

During the day, the whole town seems to be holding its breath… All is calm, maybe too calm… As night falls, a float laden with oranges and lemons appears as if from nowhere, followed by another… the drums beat impatiently, a trumpet tosses a melody into the air. And then suddenly, the din stops.

It’s time for the party! Fanfares, orchestras, folk groups and dancers incite disorder, bringing the kind of incandescent splendour normally found in the most extravagant festivals to this parade.

There will be fireworks at the end of the moonlit parades

Date		Thursdays 23rd February and 1st March 2012 at 8.30pm
Place		Promenade du soleil

Citrus Exhibition

A world tour in citrus: travel to all four corners of the world, as rendered by citrus fruits!

The jardins Biovès, from 9am to 6pm, weekends 9am to 7pm

Date		From February 18th till March 7th, 2012
Place		Jardin Biovès (near tourist office and casino)

Gardens of Light

Come to the Jardins Biovès as night falls... Visit after 8.30pm and you will encounter bizarre sounds, strange creatures borne of light, displays and other illuminated motifs. You’ll discover a new way of seeing, a new perspective…

These illuminated compositions stretch and jump and play, seeming to bring time to a standstill in a magical fairytale world of sound and light.

Date		17th, 21th, 24th 28th February and 2nd march 2012 at 8.30pm
Place		Promenade du soleil

Ticket Office

Book your tickets in advance online and enjoy the best seats in the house!

Online Ticket Office - secure online payment

* Group : min 20 persons _ reduced fare : child from 8 to 14 years old

Booking and ticket Office

Tél : +00 33.(0)4.92.41.76.95

Tourist Board

One of the Tourist Board’s goals is to ensure that you experience this festival with a maximum of enjoyment and a minimum of effort!

parking

If you need to find parking, we recommend the public car parks. But public transport is a better option.

Motor homes

Saint Michel Municipal Campground

On each of the three parade Sundays, 65 extra motor home parking spaces will be available on the football pitch next to Koaland.

Information about parking regulations in Menton

train

There are two SNCF stations in town.

Menton station is 200m from the jardins Biovès, very close to the seafront route of the parades.

Menton Garavan station is 1km from the Italian border.

Accommodation

The town offers a diverse range of quality accommodation, including 35 1 to 3 star hotels (a total of 1185 rooms), 1 campsite (Saint Michel** 131 places), 3 apartment hotels, 4 seasonal residence halls, holiday homes, a syndicate of landlords with furnished apartments, 1 youth hostel, and several bed and breakfast establishments.

Around the Lemon Festival

The Orchid Festival

Presented by the Association des Orchidophiles et Épiphytophiles de France, orchids are opening and flourishing in their own garden at the Palais de l’Europe. The ones on show are the world’s most beautiful, and they rival one another in colour, shape, and mysterious perfume. Like the carnival, the evocative and exotic names of these hybrid, botanical, and miniature varieties invite us to take a journey to a far-off land…

Salon de l’Artisanat

Local artisans present their work: wooden sculptures, glass engraving, ceramics and pottery... Taste the citrus flavours and local foods that make up the Menton’s gourmet smorgasbord of delights.

Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm
Saturday & Sunday 9am to 7pm
Evening parade (thursdays) 9.30 am to 7.00 pm

Around the Lemon of menton

Brighter yellow, shapelier, richer in essential oils, acid and flavour… Menton’s lemons are prized and sought after for their unique taste and smell. They are currently in the process of getting Protected geographical indication that will authenticate their quality. Take this opportunity to discover Menton’s lemons… nature, culture and tradition all in one.

Visit a citronneraie

The lemon orchard’s location, on the eastern flanks of the Annonciade, favours citrus growth. The land belongs to a former car racer, who has since made lemon his fuel. With such passionate backing, the Menton lemon will not hold its secret for long…

Visit the Palais Carnolès’ Citrus Collection

The Grimaldis’ former summer home houses Europe’s largest citrus collection open to the public. Rare and endangered species are kept alive here. The collection won the honour of being one of the Minster of Culture and Communication’s “Jardins Remarquables,” or remarkable gardens.

Press

Lemon Festival 2012 - Press Pack

Lemon Festival 2012 press release