Local Buzz

Counting Down to the 2014 Fête du Citron® in Menton

CATHERINE BARDRICK8 December, 20131 Mins read140

The annual Fête du Citron® takes place in Menton this coming February, and promises as exceptional a spectacle as previous years.

When life gives you lemons…make lemonade? Or make giant sculptures over 10m tall? Head over to Menton between 15th February and 5th March, 2014 for the 81st Fête du Citron® where you will see 145 tons of lemons made into a huge tableaux of structures illustrating the theme “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” (20,000 Lieues sous les Mers.)

The Jules Verne theme continues from last year’s “Around the World in 80 Days” (80 ans 80 jours) where visitors could travel around the Jardins Biovès and see the Pyramids, Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, and the Eiffel Tower – all in one day….and all made out of lemons!!

It is indeed a unique event celebrating the abundance of citrus fruits produced annually in Menton, the town on the French Riviera which boasts some 316 days of sunshine a year. The festival now attracts more than 230,000 visitors and includes processions of floats, gardens of lights, as well as the exhibition of citrus sculptures in the Jardins Biovès.

There is no need to book in advance for the actual exhibition, as you can just pay at the various ticket booths on entrance (open between 10am – 6pm daily), at a cost of €10 for adults and €5 for children, but bookings for the additional events can be made through the official website.

The Golden Fruit Parades take place on Sundays at 2.30pm on the Promenade du Soleil, and the Night-time Parades take place on Thursdays at 8.30pm on the Esplanade Francis Palmero. The closing ceremony on Sunday 2nd March will be followed by fireworks.

So for all you Phileas Fogg fans out there – find your Passepartout and head straight over to Menton. Enjoy!

CONTACT DETAILS

Jardins Biovès
Between Ave. Boyer & Ave. de Verdun
06500 Menton