Menton Lemon Festival 2027: dates, programme, tickets and where to stay

The Lemon Festival at a glance

The Lemon Festival (Fête du Citron) is the big winter event in Menton, the last French town before Italy. For just over two weeks, the town displays giant sculptures and parades floats covered entirely in lemons and oranges.

The 2027 edition is the 93rd. It runs from 13 to 28 February 2027, on the theme "Douce France" (Sweet France). It draws more than 200,000 visitors every year.

It all began in 1928, when a Menton hotelier staged an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruit in his hotel gardens. It was such a success that the event moved into the streets the following year, and became the Lemon Festival in the 1930s. Since 2019 it has been listed in France's inventory of intangible cultural heritage.

The 2027 programme

The citrus sculptures in the Biovès Gardens

This is the heart of the festival. Every day from 13 to 28 February, the Biovès Gardens in the town centre display sculptures several metres high, made of thousands of citrus fruits fixed one by one onto metal frames. Each sculpture illustrates the year's theme.

The Golden Fruit Parades, on Sundays

The day parades take place on Sundays 14, 21 and 28 February 2027, along the Promenade du Soleil, Menton's seafront. Citrus-decorated floats parade with marching bands and dance troupes.

The night parades, on Thursday evenings

The night parades take place on Thursdays 18 and 25 February 2027, from 9pm, also on the Promenade du Soleil. The floats are lit up and the evening ends with fireworks.

Gardens of Light and other events

• Gardens of Light (Jardins de Lumières): illuminated evening events on 16, 19, 23 and 26 February 2027.
• Orchid and Winter Garden Show, at the Palais de l'Europe, throughout the festival.
• Craft market, free entry, throughout the festival.

Tickets: what to know

• Book everything online, on the official website fete-du-citron.com. 2027 ticketing opened on 5 October 2026.
• Book early: the organisers warn that tickets sold on site are limited.
• For the parades there are two options: seated stands or standing areas.
• Children under 6 get in free, but still need a ticket.
• Groups of 20 or more use a separate booking service.
• An official resale platform lets you sell a ticket on to another person safely.

We do not list prices because they can change. Check the official ticketing site before you book.

Practical tips

• Come by train: from Nice, the TER takes about 40 minutes to Menton station, a few minutes' walk from the Biovès Gardens. By car, traffic is very heavy and parking is scarce.
• Arrive early: before 11am on Sundays, before 6pm on Thursdays. Entry is refused 15 minutes after a parade starts.
• Leave pets at home: animals are not allowed in the exhibition, on the parade route or at the Palais de l'Europe.
• Combine it with the Carnival: in 2027, Nice Carnival runs from 9 to 28 February. A long weekend lets you see both.
• Stop off on the way: the railway hugs the coast and stops in Monaco. The village of Èze is also on the way.

Where do the lemons come from?

It takes between 140 and 180 tonnes of citrus fruit to decorate the sculptures and floats. Menton does not grow enough for that: most of the fruit comes from Spain, from the Murcia region. The Menton lemon itself is rare, and has been protected by a geographical indication since 2015. Look for it at the town's markets and grocers.

Where to stay for the Lemon Festival

In Menton, the most convenient hotels are on the seafront or near the Biovès Gardens: you can do everything on foot, even after the Thursday night parade. The town has few large hotels, so book several months ahead.

If Menton is full, or if you also want to see the Carnival, stay in Nice near Nice-Ville station and take the train.

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To choose a neighbourhood in Nice, read our guide to where to stay in Nice.