When Life Gives you Lemons…Have a Carnival

For a dose of winter sunshine with added vitamin C, head to the stunning city of Menton, on the Côte d’Azur, for the Fête du Citron.

Attracting more than 200,000 visitors annually, the event transforms the seaside resort into a vibrant citrus wonderland. The theme of this 91st edition is ‘Journey to the Stars’, which will inspire the traditional parades featuring impressive floats made entirely of fruits. The Jardins Biovės showcases monumental citrus sculptures, while the festival offers an arts and crafts fair and an Orchid Festival.

The tradition was born in 1929 when Menton was still Europe’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. The following year, the festival took to the streets, with carts of shrubs planted with oranges – and the rest is history. Today the event gets through a staggering 140 tonnes of citrus fruits, but don’t worry they don’t go to waste as they are then sold to local residents and holidaymakers.

From February 15 to March 2

www.fete-du-citron.com

From France Today Magazine