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Menton · Côte d'Azur

93ème Fête du Citron®

A citrus star is born

Menton · Côte d'Azur

93ème Fête du Citron®

A citrus star is born

It was in 2012, just after the 79th Fête du Citron®, that the idea emerged to create a lemon-shaped mascot that would embody the values of the event and the city. The aim was to create a strong, simple image that would stand the test of time.

Its friendly face was designed to create a connection and inspire affection among visitors, both young and old. In reality, the challenge was a significant one: giving a soul and personality to a fruit, when most mascots are characters or animals.

The development of the mascot for Menton’s iconic event was a long and carefully considered process. Step by step, it gradually took shape. A name was eventually chosen: John Lemon.

Several months passed between the first sketches and the final creation. Nearly ten prototypes were produced before John Lemon finally came to life in January 2013, when he was still a one-of-a-kind creation!

During the 80th edition, the mascot was displayed at the Tourist Office. It was important to gauge the public’s reaction before launching production.

With his mischievous eyes, friendly face, playful personality and little touch of whimsy, John Lemon quickly won over visitors of all generations.

John Lemon is now available in a range of merchandise that you can find at the Official Shop during the event or at the Tourist Office.

What’s more, he has also become one of the stars of the festival!


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In this section

Fête du Citron® history

A new event to liven the city up In 1895, a group of hoteliers, seeking a way of providing winter entertainment for the city, suggested to the (…)

Fête du Citron® themes since 1959

1959: "Les Fleurs" - "The Flowers" 1960: "Le petit monde de nos campagnes" - "The Small World of Our Countryside" 1961: "Symphonie orange et or" - (…)

How to plant a lemon tree

Take 1kg of organic fertilisers (NPK) Dig a hole a bit wider and as deep as the size of the pot. Using a fork, lightly aerate the soil at the (…)

Did you know?

It’s true that the lemons used to make up the designs for the “Fête du Citron®” don’t come from Menton. After all, the Menton lemon is a rare (…)

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