Fête du Citron
The 78th annual Lemon Festival — Fête du Citron — will be held February 18 to March 9, 2011, in Menton, France. This city on the French Riviera goes all out to celebrate the yellow citrus.
To say they have a parade with fruit-filled floats is to slight the extravaganza known as Parade of Golden Fruit. Taking place for three Sundays (one just isn’t enough) on the Promenade du Soleil, they step off at 2:30 p.m. on February 20, 27 and March 6, 2011. There are creative masks and sumptuous costumes. Fanfares twirl and zigzag through the citrus-laden floats to the sound of traditional drums. A seemingly endless farandole of people sways down the alleyways to the sea.
If you prefer your parades at night, get there for the Moonlight versions. There are two, each beginning at 8:30 p.m., on February 24 and March 3, 2011, also on the Promenade du Soleil. Fireworks are the finale these two evenings.
Travel to all four corners of the world…as rendered in citrus fruits…at the Citrus Exhibition in the Jardins Biovès. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information on visiting this region in France, go online.
