What Is the Menton Lemon Pageant?

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Think about strolling via a city on the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) in late February. Out of the blue, on the streets seem a larger-than-life elephant, a regal giraffe, and an unlimited lion main a parade of Carnaval-type dancers. The parade floats can be spectacular sufficient at any competition, however what makes the Fête du Citron (Menton Lemon Pageant) distinctive is that many of the buildings are created from precise citrus fruits. 

The Menton Lemon Pageant is a can’t-miss expertise for those who occur to be close to Good or Northern Italy in late February. The Ville de Menton (City of Menton) and varied organizers placed on two weeks value of spectacles and experiences which can be in contrast to another. 

The place is Menton?

The coastal city of Menton, France is located between the Mediterranean, the town of Good, and Monaco and Italy, so it’s an unbelievable spot to go to, even outdoors of the two-week competition. From the blue waters of the ocean to the colourful homes as much as the hilltops, the town is filled with tradition, allure, and historical past. 

Its temperate microclimate permits plants to flourish, so locals and guests can get pleasure from loads of public outside areas, such because the Jardins Biovès. The celebrated “Menton lemon” selection is the inspiration for the Menton, France, lemon competition, when the gardens and streets are reworked right into a celebration of all issues lemon and citrus. 

What’s the Menton Lemon Pageant? 

A celebration of cultural heritage, creativity, artisanal merchandise, and, in fact, les agrumes (citrus fruits), the competition is a joyous expertise for anybody with a zest for all times.

Guests can expertise two weeks of enjoyable from February 14 to March 1, 2026, together with:

• parades and floats referred to as corsos in French
• exhibitions of giant inventive shows product of lemons and oranges
• winter gardens filled with orchids
• academic and outside actions
• inventive workshops

The competition started as a small celebration in 1934 at a resort and has since grown into a well-liked occasion that fills the streets. In 2026, in the course of the 92nd Fête du Citron, the city will welcome an estimated 200,000 guests! So, if the Menton lemon competition is your choose of French festivals, this information will make sure you don’t miss any of the enjoyable.

Issues to do on the Menton Lemon Pageant

There’s a lot to do and recognize in the course of the lemon competition. Whereas different French food-based holidays like La Chandeleur (aka “crêpe day”) may focus extra at dwelling, the Menton Lemon Pageant brings all of the enjoyable to the streets. It’s spaced out over two weeks, so you may take your time and revel in all that the world has to supply, however you should definitely get your tickets early for the principle occasions. 

Exhibitions des motifs d’agrumes (exhibition of citrus patterns)

All all through the Jardins Biovès, an oblong public backyard with no admission charges, expertise big sculptures product of citrus fruits. It takes numerous tons of fruit to create the floats and astonishing scenes, so that they don’t use the prized Menton lemon selection.

Previous themes have diversified from Bollywood to rock and opera to Olympic sports activities, and have featured replicas of the Taj Mahal palace, an unlimited swimmer doing the butterfly stroke in an enormous pool of lemons, and nods to the fêtes du monde (festivals of the world) with iconic characters from cultures across the globe. 

The 2026 theme is Merveilles du Vivant (Wonders of the Dwelling Issues), and also you’ll need to see for your self what the artists will create. 

Corsos des fruits d’or (golden fruit floats)

Shades of yellow and orange fill the streets with pleasure and sunshine because the défilés de chars (float parades) rework the common-or-garden citrus fruits and float individuals into tableaux vivants (stay artworks) with costumed characters, big sculptures, fanfares, dancers, musicians, and inventive expression dropped at life. 

The parades happen on three Sundays at 2:30 pm on the Promenade du Soleil, a seafront walkway. You will get tickets for seats within the tribune (grandstand) or standing room on the promenoir (walkway). 

The float parades may remind you of the numerous Mardi Gras parades and celebrations that happen world wide at the moment of yr, however with a golden citrusy aptitude. 

Corsos nocturnes (nighttime float parades) 

Fiery, enchanting, and magical, add illuminations and flame to the already superb floats parading down the streets. The 2 Thursday evening occasions start at 9 pm on the promenade, and conclude with a spectacle pyrotechnique (pyrotechnic present) at 10:30. That is additionally a ticketed occasion. 

The parades are the headline occasions, so that you’re inspired to plan forward and take public transportation or use covoiturage (carpooling). 

If the concept of inventive expression at evening sounds interesting, however you may’t make it to Menton, take a look at Nuit Blanche celebrations. There could be one nearer to dwelling. 

Salon des orchidées et du jardin d’hiver (orchid room and winter backyard) 

Botany fanatics have lengthy appreciated the local weather of Menton, which permits orchids, generally known as the bijoux de la nature (jewels of nature), to flourish. The aromatic backyard shows are open every day within the Palais de l’Europe (Palace of Europe), with tickets starting from free to solely two euros. 

Marché de l’artisanat (artisan market) 

You may’t miss the selfmade tastes and treats of the every day artisan market on the Menton lemon competition. The organizers encourage you to do one thing very French—flâner (to walk alongside with out a aim, simply to get pleasure from your self). 

Every product is exclusive, and plenty of have an extended household custom behind them, so take your time and benefit from the tales as a lot because the free samples. 

• fromage (cheese) 
• charcuterie (deli meats)
• nougat (a candy confection identified by the identical title in English)
• miel (honey) 

Proceed to flâner and discover a native spot to observe ordering meals in French.

Randonnées et Excursions (hikes and journeys) 

If you wish to discover extra of the picturesque environment of the Menton, France, lemon competition, there are lots of methods to tour the world on foot. Check out lemon-themed hikes, a hike to the highest 10 most lovely views within the space, guided excursions of varied gardens and farms, or take brief journeys to go to: 

• the villages of Castellar and Castillon
• the Saorge Monastery
• the Vallée des “Merveilles” (the Valley of Wonders, an archaeological web site)
• la Casetta (a citrus nursery and orchard) 
• the Trophy of Augustus (a Roman spoil)

Just a few of those are supplied in English, however different visites guidées (guided visits) will characteristic a French tour information, so it’s an ideal alternative to observe your French comprehension. 

Go behind-the-scenes with ateliers (workshops) 

Palms-on experiences are nice enjoyable when you’re in your journey and may educate you a brand new inventive talent, resembling studying the varied French phrases for meals and delicacies when you put together ravioli with lemon butter sauce. 

• biscuits/glaçage (cookies/icing) 
• céramique (ceramics) 
• delicacies (cooking) 
• parfum (perfume)
• bougies (candles) 

There are alternatives for coulisses (behind-the-scenes excursions) in immersive experiences with the organizers as they put together and placed on a present. 

Sensible suggestions and extra enjoyable

Try the total brochure for lists of occasions and concert events in the course of the competition weeks, together with tribute concert events to Queen and the Beatles and actions for youngsters. You may also find out about sensible info for visitors, resembling objects to not deliver, find out how to get there, parking, maps, and extra. 

All in regards to the Menton lemon

What makes the Menton lemon so particular? This explicit selection has a thicker pores and skin, a unique form, and a singular taste. They’ve been grown on this space for the reason that seventeenth century, which in 2015 was acknowledged with an Indication Géographique Protégée (Protected Geographical Indication), so solely lemons from Menton can bear this title.

What’s a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in France? 

This can be a European label that ensures the standard and geographic origin of a product. It signifies that a part of producing the product, resembling cheese, wine, or fruit, has been linked to a selected area. It’s one stage away from the Appellation d’Origine Protégée (Protected Designation of Origin), which signifies that each step of the method should come from the outlined space. Because of this a glowing white wine can solely be referred to as “champagne” if it’s from the Champagne area of France.

Culinary delicacies are an enormous a part of what France is thought for. These labels inform the patron that what they’re shopping for has the properties that may solely come from sure soil makeups and conventional processes, making this designation a badge of honor for the Menton lemon. They’re rightly thought of a delicacy and a part of French heritage. 

Ceaselessly requested questions in regards to the Menton Lemon Pageant

The lemon competition is an fascinating a part of French tradition that, just like the product it was named for, is exclusive to the area.