The Lemon Festival is a unique event in the world. Every year, more than 200,000 visitors flock to the city of Menton. Its parades and structures are composed exclusively of oranges and lemons.
More than 300 people are involved in the festival. Citrus growers, gardeners, designers, metalworkers… A company creates the metal frameworks, then the City of Menton’s Gardens Service decorates the structures with oranges and lemons. 500,000 rubber bands and 145 tons of citrus fruits are needed to construct them.
Every day during the festival, the Biovès Gardens are open to the public to visit the cinema scene reconstructions.
The Golden Fruit Corsos (Sundays, February 14, 21, & 28, 2010) are floats decorated with citrus fruits. Between each float, orchestras, folk groups, and majorettes parade.
The night corsos (Thursdays, February 18 & 25, 2010) allow festival-goers to enjoy the event in the dark. A large fireworks display over the bay concludes the evening.
The Gardens of Light in the Biovès Gardens (Fridays, February 12, 19, & 26, 2010 and Tuesdays, February 16 & 23, 2010, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM) illuminate the settings with light displays.
In 1929, Menton was the leading lemon producer on the continent. A flower and citrus exhibition was created in the Hotel Riviera Gardens. The following year, carts of shrubs planted with oranges and lemons enlivened the streets of the city. The Lemon Festival was born in 1934. Two years later, the first citrus and flower exhibition took place in the Biovès Gardens. It was the beginning of a long history. Year after year, the number of visitors continues to grow, and original themes follow one another.
Corso seating in the stands: €17, €14 for groups, €13 reduced rates.
Corso standing in the promenade: €9, €8 for groups, €6.50 reduced rates.
Entrance to the citrus exhibition: €9, €8 for groups, €6.50 reduced rates.
Gardens of Light: €12, €10 for groups, €8 reduced rates.
Corso seating in the stands + Entrance to citrus exhibition: €23, €19.50 for groups, €18 reduced rates.
Corso standing in the promenade + Entrance to citrus exhibition: €15, €13.50 for groups, €12 reduced rates.
Group: from 20 people
Reduced rates: children aged 8 to 14 (children under 8 seated at the reduced rate in the stands)
