Menton Lemon Festival: What Happens, How to Visit & Mistakes to Avoid (2026 Guide)

Welcome to Menton, a sun-drenched seaside town on the border of France and Italy. Here, Mediterranean charm meets Riviera elegance. 

Ever seen a castle made entirely from lemons? Every February, Menton transforms into a vibrant world of citrus sculptures, parades, music, gardens, and local flavours during the famous Menton Lemon Festival.

Below you’ll find a complete, visitor-friendly guide including what happens at the festival, how to get there, the theme for 2026, and the top mistakes to avoid for a smooth, memorable trip.

What Is the Menton Lemon Festival?

The Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival, is an annual celebration honouring Menton’s historic lemon-growing heritage. During the event, the town is filled with:

• Giant citrus sculptures made of lemons and oranges

• Day and night parades

• Live music and street performances

• Citrus-themed markets

• Exhibitions and themed gardens

• Food stalls featuring local Menton lemon specialties

The festival takes place in February each year and attracts over 200,000 visitors. The event attracts visitors from around the world, so making the most out of the sour flavors at the Lemon Festival is easier if you take into account some practical tips for visitors:

Menton Lemon Festival 2026: Theme, dates, times & tickets

Each edition of the festival features a unique artistic theme that inspires both the sculptures and parade floats. The theme for next year's festival will be "The Wonders of Life." 

You can catch the festivities between February 14th and March 1st. The citrus sculptures (citrus pattern exhibition) is set up in the city centre and will be open for public with free admission throughout the event. Just stroll around the town and be amazed!

Ticketed events include the Parades, Concerts and the Orchid and Winter Garden Show at the Palais de l’Europe. Not every event is held every day, and you can choose between day or night parades.

You can find the full schedule and buy your tickets at the event's official website.

What Happens at the Menton Lemon Festival?

A typical festival day includes:

🍋 Citrus Sculptures in Jardins Biovès

This is the heart of the festival - colossal structures made from 140+ tons of citrus fruit. Each year has a different theme, and sculptures can reach up to 10 meters high.

🎭 Parades (Corsos)

• Day parades with floats covered in citrus

• Night parades with lights, dancers, and fireworks
  These are lively, colourful, and often the most crowded festival moments.

🎶 Performances & Street Entertainment

Musicians, dancers, marching bands, and themed street shows happen throughout the center.

🛍 Lemon Market & Local Products

Taste lemon jam, limoncello, pastries, and artisanal goods created by local producers.

🌿 Themed Gardens

The Jardin des Lumières and other botanical spaces host special nighttime experiences.

Behind-the-Scenes: Creating the Sculptures

What many visitors don’t realise is that each citrus sculpture requires weeks of preparation and a dedicated team of designers, gardeners, engineers, and volunteers. The structures are built with metal frameworks that are carefully hand-wired with thousands of lemons and oranges, creating intricate patterns and vibrant scenes. 

Each fruit is selected for size and colour consistency to create a smooth, bright surface. The installation process begins as early as January, and workers often continue through unpredictable winter weather to ensure that the sculptures are ready on time. 

Seeing the sculptures becomes even more impressive when you understand how much human effort and craftsmanship goes into every detail. Nothing about them is accidental!

Top Visitor Mistakes at the Menton Lemon Festival (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Underestimating the Crowds

Attendance numbers at the Festival have been rising each year. The town gets really crowded especially during weekends and peak hours.

We visited on a Thursday and still spent nearly an hour trying to find parking.

DO THIS ✅

• Visit on weekdays or early/late in the day

• Book accommodation well in advance

• Expect long lines during parades

  
  

Mistake 2: Thinking the Sculptures Are the Only Attraction

You can find the sculptures at the Jardins Biovès in the center of Menton.

While the citrus sculptures are undeniably the highlight of the Menton Lemon Festival, once you’ve walked around the park you’ve seen it. 

Don’t neglect the festival’s colorful parades, musical performances and culinary markets.

DO THIS ✅

• Reserve time & tickets for the day or night parades in advance

• Explore the culinary market

• Check activity times on the official festival schedule to plan your day. If you just want to see the sculptures, opt for a day without the parades to avoid crowds.

• Visit both daytime installations and nighttime attractions if you're based in Menton

  
  

Mistake 3: Ignoring Menton’s Beauty Beyond the Festival

While the Menton Lemon Festival takes center stage during its run, don’t miss out exploring the town. Menton is one of the most picturesque towns on the French Riviera! Don’t rush in and out without exploring its charms. Menton has a charming Old Town with pastel-colored buildings, picturesque gardens, and stunning sea views.

DO THIS ✅

• Wander the Old Town and its pastel buildings

• Visit the Basilica of Saint-Michel

• Stop by the Jean Cocteau Museum

• Explore the Jardin Botanique Exotique

• Enjoy an aperitivo overlooking the sea

  
  

Insider Tips from Locals

Take it from the locals: the weekday mornings right after the festival opens are usually the most peaceful time to stroll through the citrus installations. 

You’ll also find that cafés around the Jardins Biovès serve limited-edition lemon pastries and drinks that aren’t available during the rest of the year - a delightful way to take a break between activities!

Another common piece of advice is to explore the smaller streets behind the main parade route. These areas offer fantastic viewpoints for photography and allow you to experience the festive atmosphere without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. 

Simple adjustments like these can completely transform your festival experience.

How to Get to the Menton Lemon Festival

Public transport on the Riviera can be unpredictable, but it’s still often the most practical option during the festival.

🚆 By Train (Recommended)

The festival itself recommends arriving by train. The Menton train station is a short walk from most festival areas.

🚗 By Car

If you choose to drive:

• Book your parking weeks in advance

• Even pre-booked parking may sell out on parade days

• Allow extra time for traffic entering Menton

🚌 Buses

Regional buses operate from nearby cities like Nice, Monaco, and Ventimiglia, though schedules can be limited.

When Is the Best Time to Arrive at the Menton Lemon Festival?

To avoid crowds:

• Early morning: great for the sculptures

• Late afternoon: cooler temperatures, more relaxed

• Parade days: arrive at least 1–1.5 hours before the event

Local History & Cultural Context

Although the Menton Lemon Festival is famous today for its dazzling sculptures, its origins are surprisingly humble. Menton has been cultivating lemons for centuries thanks to its exceptionally mild microclimate, sheltered between mountains and the Mediterranean. 

Historically, Menton’s lemons were so prized that they were shipped across Europe for both culinary and medicinal use. Locals often say that the fruit is part of the town’s identity, and the festival itself began in the 1930s as a way to showcase this agricultural treasure. 

Understanding this cultural background makes the festival feel far more meaningful. Instead of just seeing the sculptures as colourful displays, you begin to appreciate them as symbols of a long-standing connection between the land, the climate, and the people who have lived here for generations.

Photography tips for Menton Lemon Festival

The Menton Lemon Festival is a dream setting for photography lovers, but capturing the sculptures and parades requires a bit of planning. For the best lighting, visit the Jardins Biovès early in the morning when the sun is soft and the fruit colours appear most vibrant. 

If you're photographing the night parades, bring a phone or camera with good low-light capabilities, as the movement of dancers and floats can easily result in blurred images. Local photographers recommend standing at the beginning of the parade route, where performers are still full of energy and crowds are slightly thinner. Don’t forget to explore from different angles. Some of the most creative shots come from side streets, balconies, or reflections in nearby windows!

Final Thoughts: Is the Menton Lemon Festival Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

The Menton Lemon Festival is a unique, colourful, and joyful winter event full of creativity and Riviera charm. With a bit of planning - especially around crowds and transport - you can enjoy everything the festival and the city of Menton have to offer.

One of my favourite moments during the festival happened completely by accident. We had ducked into a small alley to escape the crowds when we suddenly stumbled upon a group of local musicians rehearsing for the evening parade. For a few minutes enjoyed a private performance. It’s moments like these, spontaneous, unscripted, and full of local charm that make the Menton Lemon Festival so memorable. 

Beyond the official programme, the town itself becomes a living stage where surprises happen around every corner.

xx,

Irene