Fête du Citron 2025

A world unique event !

The "Fête du Citron®" (Lemon Festival), an unique event in the world, attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year. For more than 15 days, come and enjoy the zest-flavored of Golden parades and Night-time parades(parades of citrus floats and animated by groups), admire the Exhibition of citrus patterns in the gardens Biovès; not forgetting to visit the Crafts Fair and the Festival of Orchids with unforgettable scents. Come and discover this fantasy world, and move to the rhythm of a simply unforgettable event.

 History of the Festival

In 1929, Menton was still the leading lemon producer on the continent. A hotelier had the idea of organizing an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits in the gardens of the Riviera Hotel. The success was such that the following year, the festival took to the streets: carts with bushes planted with oranges and lemons paraded through the city.

The Lemon Festival® was born in 1934.

For decades, the Fête du Citron® has delighted thousands of spectators from all over the world who come to admire the giant citrus fruit motifs.

At the beginning of the century, Menton created the event in the pure tradition of festivals. In the 1930s, the city played the originality card: citrus fruits entered the scene…

A parade to liven up the city

In 1895, hoteliers suggested to the municipality that they create a parade to liven up the city in winter. In 1896, the Menton parade attracted locals and wealthy winter visitors alike. At the time, it was fashionable to come and spend the winter months in the mild climate of the Côte d’Azur. Kings, princes and artists frequented the palaces of Menton where splendid villas were built. The 1882 parade remains in the memory: Queen Victoria attended it, and ended with a grandiose fireworks display over the Bay of Garavan.

The tradition of the “Moucouleti”

On the evening of the second animation that evolves – called “corso” -, the Mentonians indulged in the traditional entertainment of “Moucouleti” or “Moccoletti”, small candles that each person held in their hand. The game consisted of keeping one’s own lit, but blowing out that of the neighbor! A game that was a pretext for romantic encounters, as Pierre Masséna recounts “It was a question of trying with great dexterity for the young man to extinguish the candle of the young woman, who was holding her lit pipe above her head. When the young man had succeeded in this feat, he could relight the blackened wick and receive a kiss in thanks.”

Lemons join the dance

In 1929, Menton was still the continent's leading lemon producer. A hotelier had the idea of ​​organising an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits in the gardens of the Hôtel Riviera. It was such a success that the following year, the festival took to the streets: carts of shrubs planted with oranges and lemons moved alongside charming Menton women. The municipality, keen to develop tourism, sought to give the parade a typically local colour.

The Fête du Citron® was born in 1934.

Two years later, the first exhibition of citrus fruits and flowers was launched in the Biovès gardens. François Ferrié was responsible for designing the designs for the lemon and orange floats and the patterns in the gardens. A success that would continue year after year.

Photos Raouf Meftah 

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