Fête du Citron 2027 – Menton, France

What to expect in 2027

Fête du Citron, or the Lemon Festival of Menton, is one of the best-known citrus celebrations on the French Riviera. Organized by the City of Menton, the event combines giant citrus displays, decorated parade floats, illuminated gardens, live entertainment, an orchid and winter-garden exhibition, and an arts and crafts market. The official organizer says the festival attracts more than 250,000 visitors each year and was added to France’s inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2019.

The festival is built around the visual and cultural identity of Menton and its historic relationship with citrus growing. Although the lemons and oranges used for the monumental displays are not all grown locally, the festival celebrates Menton’s long citrus-growing heritage and the famous Menton lemon, which has protected geographical indication status.

The main attractions include the citrus-pattern exhibition in the Biovès Gardens, the Golden Fruit Parades, the Night-time Parades and the Gardens of Light. Visitors can also explore the Orchid Show and Winter Garden and browse the free-entry Craftsmanship Market.

The 2027 edition follows the festival’s established format while presenting a new artistic theme and new citrus sculptures. The official programme is already published online, although the organizer notes that the programme remains subject to change.

Event dates

February 13 – 28, 2027

The official 2027 programme confirms the festival period and lists the principal attractions, including the citrus-pattern exhibition, Golden Fruit Parades, Night-time Parades, Gardens of Light, Orchid and Winter Garden Show and Craftsmanship Market.

The official ticketing information is already available, including prices for parade seating, standing areas, the citrus exhibition, Gardens of Light, the Orchid Show and Winter Garden, and a combined evening package.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

Fête du Citron is spread across several central locations in Menton rather than being confined to a single festival enclosure. The Biovès Gardens host the monumental citrus-pattern exhibition, while parade activities use the city streets and designated parade route. The Palais de l’Europe hosts the Orchid Show and Winter Garden.

The Biovès Gardens are particularly important to the festival because they contain the large-scale citrus sculptures constructed from lemons and oranges. These structures are designed around the festival’s artistic theme and are one of the principal attractions for visitors.

The Palais de l’Europe provides an indoor location for the orchid and winter-garden exhibition and also functions as an important visitor information and ticketing point. The official ticket collection and sales point is at Palais de l’Europe, 8 Avenue Boyer, 06500 Menton, France.

The Mail du Bastion is used for the Craftsmanship Market, which is listed by the official programme as free admission.

Full food & drink programme

Fête du Citron is primarily a citrus, arts and cultural festival rather than a conventional food festival. Its principal culinary identity comes from the citrus products associated with Menton and the wider Riviera.

Visitors can discover the Menton lemon and other citrus products through the festival’s broader “Around the Lemon” programme and through local producers, shops and food businesses in the city.

The official festival emphasizes the historic importance of citrus cultivation to Menton. The Menton lemon received protected geographical indication recognition, making it an important regional specialty beyond its decorative role at the festival.

The festival environment also provides opportunities to sample regional food and beverages in Menton’s restaurants, cafés, markets and surrounding hospitality businesses. However, the official festival programme does not present a single centralized food court or comprehensive food-vendor programme comparable to a dedicated gastronomy festival.

Visitors interested specifically in citrus-based products can look for local lemon products, preserves, confectionery, pastries, beverages and other specialties around the festival area.

Featured foods & specialties

The Menton lemon is the most important food specialty associated with Fête du Citron. It is a protected regional product and forms an important part of Menton’s agricultural and cultural heritage.

The festival’s relationship with citrus goes beyond fresh fruit. Menton and the surrounding Riviera are known for culinary products made using lemons and other citrus varieties, including preserves, sweets, pastries and beverages.

Visitors can also discover citrus products through local shops and producers around the festival area. The official festival website includes an “Around the Lemon” section specifically dedicated to the relationship between the event, the fruit and Menton’s heritage.

The citrus fruit used in the festival’s giant displays should not, however, be confused with the protected Menton lemon. The official organizer explains that the quantities of Menton-grown lemons are insufficient to supply the enormous citrus compositions used for the festival, so the decorative fruit is sourced more broadly.

Restaurants, vendors & producers

Fête du Citron does not operate primarily as a producer-focused food market. Instead, the festival is integrated into Menton’s wider tourism and hospitality environment.

The Craftsmanship Market provides the principal official marketplace within the festival programme. It is free to enter and gives visitors an opportunity to browse crafts and local products alongside their festival visit.

Local restaurants, cafés, bakeries and specialty food shops throughout Menton provide additional opportunities to experience Riviera cuisine and citrus products.

Visitors interested in the agricultural side of the festival can also explore the official “Around the Lemon” resources, which explain the history and importance of citrus cultivation in Menton.

The organizer does not currently publish a single comprehensive list of restaurants or food vendors participating specifically in the 2027 festival, so individual businesses should not be presented as official festival vendors without confirmation.

Wine, beer & beverage selection

Wine and regional beverages form part of the wider French Riviera dining experience, although Fête du Citron is not organized as a dedicated wine or beer festival.

Visitors can combine the festival with meals at Menton’s restaurants and cafés, where regional French and Mediterranean drinks are available.

Citrus-based beverages are particularly relevant to the festival’s theme, with lemon and other citrus products forming part of Menton’s food culture.

The official festival programme does not currently identify a dedicated 2027 beer garden, wine village or centralized beverage programme. Visitors should therefore regard drinks as part of the wider city experience rather than a separately programmed festival attraction.

Tastings, cooking demos & workshops

The main interactive attractions at Fête du Citron are visual, cultural and entertainment-based rather than cooking demonstrations.

Visitors can explore the citrus displays in the Biovès Gardens and discover how citrus fruit is incorporated into large-scale artistic structures. The festival also provides opportunities to learn about Menton’s citrus heritage through its official “Around the Lemon” information.

The Orchid Show and Winter Garden offers a complementary horticultural experience, bringing plants, flowers and citrus-related atmosphere together under one programme.

The official 2027 programme does not currently list a comprehensive series of cooking workshops or chef-led culinary demonstrations. Visitors looking specifically for food demonstrations should therefore check the detailed programme for any additions or special activities before attending.

Ticket types & entry options

The official organizer has published the 2027 ticket prices for the principal paid attractions. Using the European Central Bank reference rate of €1 = $1.1355 from the latest available rate, the published prices convert approximately as follows.

Golden Fruit and Night-time Parade grandstand

• Adult: $34.07
• Group: $28.39
• Reduced rate for students and children aged 6–12: $17.03
• Disability card holders and children under 6: $17.03 for a grandstand seat

Parade promenade standing area

• Adult: $18.17
• Group: $17.03
• Reduced rate: $9.08
• Disability card holders and children under 6: Free

Citrus Designs Exhibition at Biovès Gardens

• Adult: $13.63
• Group: $12.49
• Reduced rate: $7.95
• Disability card holders and children under 6: Free

Gardens of Light

• Adult: $18.17
• Group: $15.90
• Reduced rate: $9.08
• Disability card holders and children under 6: Free

Orchid Show and Winter Garden

• Adult: $5.68
• Group: $3.41
• Reduced rate: $2.27
• Disability card holders and children under 6: Free

Thursday evening package

The combined package includes one grandstand seat for an evening parade and admission to the citrus-design exhibition.

• Adult: $42.01
• Group: $34.07
• Child aged 6–12: $20.44

The Craftsmanship Market is listed as free admission.

VIP & premium experiences

The official ticket programme does not currently identify a separate VIP pass or dedicated hospitality package.

The closest premium-style option is the grandstand seating for the parades, which provides a reserved seated position rather than standing in the promenade area.

The combined evening package also provides a more comprehensive paid experience by combining parade grandstand seating with admission to the citrus exhibition.

Visitors who want the most structured experience can also combine several separately ticketed attractions, such as the citrus displays, Gardens of Light, Orchid Show and parade access.

Event rules

The organizer publishes several important rules for visitors.

• Animals are not permitted on the parade route or inside the Palais de l’Europe for hygiene and safety reasons.
• Visitors entitled to free admission must still have an admission ticket.
• Entry to a parade is not permitted after 15 minutes have passed from its start.
• Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation because of the significant volume of traffic associated with the festival.
• Visitors should follow official traffic, parking and security instructions.
• Parade spectators should arrive early enough to pass through security and reach their designated area.

The official organizer also recommends arriving in Menton well before the start of the major parades because of traffic and crowd levels.

How to get there

Menton is located on the French Riviera close to the Italian border and can be reached by rail, road and regional public transportation.

For international visitors, Nice Côte d’Azur provides the principal nearby air connection. From Nice, travelers can continue toward Menton by regional train or road.

The official festival strongly recommends using public transportation because of the large influx of vehicles during the event. The organizer specifically identifies the ZOU! train network as one of the easiest ways to reach Menton, with the railway station located less than 200 meters from the entrance to the festival manifestations.

Driving remains possible, but visitors should expect traffic management, temporary parking restrictions and heavier congestion around the festival route.

Public transport & parking

Public transportation is strongly encouraged by the official organizer. The ZOU! train network provides direct access to Menton, and the railway station is located close to the main festival areas.

For drivers, the official parking information directs motorists toward designated reception areas after leaving the A8 motorway at exit 59. Road signs identify parking zones for regular vehicles and camping cars.

Visitors should pay close attention to municipal signs and temporary parking restrictions around the parade circuit.

Camping-car capacity is limited, according to the official festival information, so visitors traveling in motorhomes should check the specific arrangements before arrival.

Accommodation areas

Menton is the most convenient base for visitors who want to remain close to the festival sites, parade route and central attractions.

The city offers hotels, guesthouses, holiday apartments and other accommodation options across the central area and along the Riviera coastline.

Nearby towns along the Côte d’Azur can also provide accommodation for visitors who prefer to travel into Menton by train.

Visitors staying farther away should pay particular attention to the evening transportation timetable if they plan to attend the Night-time Parades or Gardens of Light.

Because the festival attracts more than 250,000 visitors, accommodation demand can be substantial. The official visitor information should be checked when planning transport and lodging.

Food & drink highlights

The culinary identity of the festival is closely linked to citrus and the Menton lemon.

The Menton lemon has protected geographical indication status, reflecting its recognized regional identity and characteristics.

Visitors can look for lemon-based products throughout the city, including preserves, confectionery, pastries and beverages.

The festival’s strongest visual connection with food is the use of citrus fruit to construct enormous decorative sculptures in the Biovès Gardens. These displays transform lemons and oranges into elaborate artistic compositions.

The official organizer specifically notes that the fruit used for the displays does not all come from Menton because local production alone would not be sufficient for the scale of the festival’s installations.

For a wider food experience, visitors can combine the festival with Menton’s restaurants, markets, cafés and specialty shops.

Accessibility

The festival provides specific accessibility information for visitors with reduced mobility.

The official accessibility guidance explains that visitors with a CMI Disability card may receive free or reduced admission depending on the attraction. Standing access to the parade promenade can be free for eligible visitors, while grandstand access has a reduced rate.

The Biovès Gardens have stairs and walkways between the different garden areas. The official information explains that wheelchair users can leave the first garden area and reach the entrance of the second.

The arts and crafts and orchid fair is held on the first floor of the Palais de l’Europe, which is accessible by elevator.

Accessible toilets are available on the ground and first floors of the Palais de l’Europe, while an accessible toilet is also provided during parades at Place Saint Roch.

Reserved accessible parking spaces are available around the event area, including spaces at Cours du Centenaire near the Menton Post Office.

Best days to attend

Visitors interested in the main parade experience should plan around the Golden Fruit Parades or Night-time Parades listed in the official programme.

Those who prefer the illuminated evening atmosphere can combine a Night-time Parade with the Gardens of Light.

Visitors focused on photography and the large citrus sculptures can spend time at the Biovès Gardens and explore the displays at their own pace.

The Orchid Show and Winter Garden provides a quieter alternative to the parade environment, while the Craftsmanship Market offers free access and an opportunity to browse artisan products.

For a broad festival experience, visitors can combine a daytime visit to the citrus exhibition and Craftsmanship Market with an evening programme.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition continued the festival’s established combination of giant citrus sculptures, parade floats, illuminated attractions, horticultural displays and artisan activities.

The official archive documents Golden Fruit Parades and Night-time Parades featuring decorated floats made with citrus fruit and accompanied by groups and performers. The Gardens of Light also form an important part of the evening programme.

The Biovès Gardens remained the main setting for the large citrus compositions, while the Palais de l’Europe hosted the Orchid Show and Winter Garden.

The Craftsmanship Market provided a free-access area for visitors interested in crafts and regional products.

The festival also continued its long historical connection with Menton’s citrus-growing heritage. The official history traces the modern Lemon Festival to the development of citrus exhibitions and street parades and explains how the celebration eventually became the dedicated Fête du Citron.

The event’s cultural importance is also reflected in its inclusion in France’s inventory of intangible cultural heritage.

Official tickets

Official tickets are available through the Fête du Citron website and the ticketing system linked by the City of Menton.

The official 2027 ticket schedule includes grandstand and promenade tickets for the parades, admission to the citrus-pattern exhibition, Gardens of Light, the Orchid Show and Winter Garden, and a combined evening package.

The Craftsmanship Market is listed as free admission.

The official ticket collection and sales point is Palais de l’Europe, 8 Avenue Boyer, 06500 Menton, France. The organizer also provides an official resale platform for secure resale between individuals.

Official website: https://www.fete-du-citron.com/