Last Updated on twenty fourth February 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Sparkling Menton is the jewel of the French Riviera, a pastel hued dream stuffed with Italianate structure and surrounded by a sea of lemon groves. Each February, the city performs host to the distinguished Fête du Citron, the place all issues citrus are celebrated. Here’s go to the Menton lemon pageant and what to know earlier than you go.
2023 marks the 89th version of the pageant. The theme is Rock & Opera.
History of the Menton Lemon Festival
Back in 1929, Menton was the largest lemon producer in Europe. A lemon pageant has been held in Menton on an annual foundation since 1934, when the distinctive world occasion was based.
Although it was based earlier, there has solely been a carnival factor since 1955 and there has solely been a theme since 1959. Each yr sees no fewer than 240,000 guests who want to see the floats and occasions for themselves.
Today, the occasion is without doubt one of the largest winter occasions on the French Riviera (second solely to Nice Carinval). There is a special theme annually, and the theme for 2023 is Rock & Opera. Previous themes have included Disney and Around the World.
The mascot of the city is ‘John Lemon,’ the cartoon of a lemon who sports activities an Elvis Presley like coiffure and who’s on the poster for all occasions. There’s even a bigger than life sculpture of John Lemon on the close by Nice Airport, the place you should purchase lemon themed merchandise previous to your flight!
The pageant lasts for 20 days and over 20,000 elastic bands are used to carry the 140 tonnes of fruit in place. Each night and early morning through the occasion, a devoted group use cherry pickers to exchange any mouldy lemons/ oranges with recent ones.
Lemon pageant themes lately:
- 2001 : Les Contes de Perrault/ The counts of Perrault
- 2002 : Pinocchio
- 2003 : Alice au Pays des Merveilles/ Alice in Wonderland
- 2004 : Walt Disney Studio
- 2005 : Viva Espana/ Long dwell Spain
- 2006 : Menton invite les Carnavals du monde – invité d’honneur « Le Brésil »/ Brazil Carnival
- 2007 : Menton invite les Carnavals du monde – invité d’honneur « l’Inde »/ Indian Carnival
- 2008 : Menton invite les Iles du Monde/ Islands of the world
- 2009 : Menton fête les musiques du monde/ Music festivals of the world
- 2010 : Menton fait son cinéma/ Menton creates the drama
- 2011 : Menton célèbre les grandes civilisations/ Great Civilizations
- 2012 : Menton invite les régions de France/ Regions of France
- 2013 : Menton l’escale secrète du tour du monde en 80 jours/ Around the World in 80 Days
- 2014 : 20 000 lieues sous les mers/ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- 2015 : « Les tribulations d’un citron en chine/ Jules Verne theme continuation
- 2016 : Cinecittà/ Cinemaville
- 2017 : Broadway
- 2018 : Bollywood
- 2019 : Des mondes fantastiques/ Fantastical worlds
- 2020 : Les Fêtes du monde/ World festivals
- 2022 : Opéras et Danses/ Opera and dances
- 2023: Rock & Opera
What occurs to the lemons after the pageant?
Once the pageant has ended, the lemons and oranges are sorted by hand into those which might nonetheless be bought and those which must be composted (as a result of they’ve gone mouldy) and are bought at a particular Sunday market. It’s price noting that the lemons used within the Menton lemon pageant will not be really grown in Menton however in Spain.
Events on the pageant
Sculptures in Biovès Gardens (Exposition des Motifs d’Agrumes)
One of the extra widespread actions on the pageant is just to walk by means of the Biovès Gardens, the place you possibly can take pleasure in bigger than life free to see lemon sculptures. There are various stalls which resemble these of the Christmas Markets and promote all types of lemon themed merchandise from soaps to citrus timber.
The Gardens of Lights (Jardins de Lumières)
At evening time, the entire sculptures are illuminated. Strolling amongst the statues after nightfall was most likely my favorite time as lots of the day trippers had left the city and so that you had extra of the place to your self, to not point out that the citrus fruits regarded rather more lovely put up nightfall!
The Golden Fruit Parade (Corso des Fruits d’Or)
There are additionally ticketed occasions. Each weekend, on a Sunday afternoon, there’s a parade of citrus floats which head by means of the city alongside the seafront on the Promenade du Soleil for tens of hundreds of spectators. These processions are accompanied by dancers, people bands, and many others.
The Night-Time Parade (Corso Nocturne)
For two nights solely through the pageant interval, there’s a night-time model of the Golden Fruit Parade which finishes at 10:30 PM, earlier than there’s a firework show.
How to go to the pageant
It’s free to see the sculptures, and I notably advocate going to see them at evening as they’re illuminated by lovely pastel hued lights. If you wish to go to any of the spectacles, then you definately’ll have to e book tickets upfront and think about arriving through practice because the automobile parks can get fairly busy and full!
Unfortunately you possibly can’t carry your canine with you, and enormous baggage are prohibited. You can also’t carry alongside any of the issues that you simply couldn’t carry to an enormous pageant or museum (weapons, firecrackers, and many others).
The closest airport is Nice, which serves a wide range of nationwide and worldwide locations, together with various flights to London Heathrow. There are direct trains from Nice to Menton all through the day, which cease off in any respect the assorted different French Riviera cities en route.
Where to remain in Menton
Imagine waking up every single day to the sound of lapping waves and the screeches of seagulls up above. This is the truth of life in Menton, even should you solely choose to remain for a number of days.
I’ve visited the French Riviera a number of instances now, and have stayed in a single day in Menton, which was price it, if solely to benefit from the city after the day trippers had left. Here are among the greatest locations to remain in Menton:
Mid-range: Steps away from the Musée Jean Cocteau and never distant from the maze of streets that make up Menton’s outdated city, the Royal Westminster Hotel is about alongside the backdrop of the Promenade du Soleil. As lovely on the surface because the rooms supplied inside, this resort boasts a Belle Epoque facçade with some rooms providing sea views. Check charges and availability right here
Luxury: Truth be informed, one of the vital luxurious lodges in Menton is that of Napoleon, a four-star institution which is well-reviewed throughout reserving and assessment websites.
Close to the ocean and that includes luxurious facilities resembling an out of doors pool, 24-hour reception desk, and a few rooms providing beachside views, different highlights embody free Wi-Fi and a bar on website. Check charges and availability right here
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Sophie Nadeau loves canines, books, journey, pizza, and historical past. A fan of all issues France associated, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the following sundown shot or consuming one thing candy. She at present splits her time between Paris and London. Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.