Menton's protected lemon crop is too small for the festival's giant citrus displays, so the fruit used in the motifs comes from elsewhere.
Fête du Citron 2027: dates and location
The 93rd Fête du Citron runs in Menton, France, from 13 to 28 February 2027. This year's theme is “Douce France”. Across the two weeks, visitors can see large citrus displays at the Jardins Biovès, daytime Golden Fruit parades, night parades, Gardens of Light, an orchid and winter garden show, and a craft market. The organizer says the festival draws more than 250,000 visitors a year. Ticket sales opened on 5 October 2026 through the official 2027 programme and ticket page (opens in a new tab).
What happens during the festival?
The main daytime display is the citrus exhibition at the Jardins Biovès. Large structures covered with lemons and oranges form scenes and patterns. Visitors can walk among the displays during the festival dates. The official programme also lists a craft market from 13 to 28 February; the market is free to enter.
The parades bring the festival onto the seafront. The 2027 Golden Fruit parades are scheduled for Sundays 14, 21 and 28 February. Menton's official tourism listing places them on the Promenade du Soleil from 14:30 to 16:00. Night parades are scheduled for Thursdays 18 and 25 February. The organizer's programme lists Gardens of Light on 16, 19, 23 and 26 February, alongside an orchid and winter garden show from 13 to 28 February. Ticket access and opening details vary by activity, so check the live programme before choosing a day.
For a Sunday parade, the local tourism office advises arriving before 11:00 and says access closes 15 minutes after the parade starts. That is useful to know if you have a timed ticket or need to enter the viewing area. Read the Menton tourism office's parade listing (opens in a new tab) as well as the organizer's ticket instructions, since access arrangements can change.
Tickets and choosing a date
Ticket sales for the 2027 edition opened on 5 October 2026. Buy through the official festival website, where the event pages lead to the relevant ticket options. The organizer notes that the best grandstand seats are usually taken first. A Sunday is the clearest choice if you want to see a Golden Fruit parade. Choose 18 or 25 February for a night parade, or one of the four Gardens of Light dates for the evening installations. The citrus exhibition runs throughout the festival, so it offers more flexibility than a parade date.
Treat the published dates as the current plan and check the official page close to your trip for parade times, admission rules, seating, accessibility details and schedule changes. If you are comparing places to stay, view accommodation options in Menton (opens in a new tab) and check each property's location and cancellation terms.
Getting to the Fête du Citron
Menton's railway station is about 200 metres from the Jardins Biovès and close to the seafront. The festival's travel page (opens in a new tab) recommends public transport because festival traffic can be heavy. It currently lists ZOU! trains between Cannes and Menton at roughly 15-minute intervals, with additional evening services. Train frequencies and late services can change, so confirm them with the operator before travelling.
The same page lists buses 600 and 601 from Nice, with a journey of about an hour, and airport bus 80 at about 75 minutes. These are the organizer's current estimates, and travel times may vary on festival days. Check the live bus and rail schedules, allow extra time, and look at the entrance and stop information for the activity you plan to attend. Walking from the station is practical for the central gardens, while parade viewing takes place along the seafront.
Why Menton celebrates citrus
The festival started with a hotel exhibition. In 1928, a hotelier proposed a flower and citrus display at the Hôtel Riviera. The festival began in 1934, and the first corso followed in 1935. A 1936 display at the Jardins Biovès used about 10,000 lemons and 12,000 oranges, according to the organizer's history of the festival (opens in a new tab).
Menton also has a distinctive lemon-growing tradition. The Citron de Menton holds European protected geographical indication status, and the official festival site says the designation covers five communes in the Alpes-Maritimes. Yet the local harvest is too small to supply the large decorative motifs. The fruit used for those displays comes from elsewhere. The organizer explains both points on its page about the lemon of Menton (opens in a new tab).
Fête du Citron 2027: common questions
When is the 2027 Fête du Citron?
The 93rd edition runs from 13 to 28 February 2027. Golden Fruit parades are scheduled on 14, 21 and 28 February; night parades on 18 and 25 February. Confirm the latest programme and ticket details with the organizer before travelling.
Where are the parades and citrus displays?
The citrus exhibition and Gardens of Light are at the Jardins Biovès. The Golden Fruit parades travel along the Promenade du Soleil. Menton's railway station is close to the gardens and seafront, which makes the central festival areas accessible on foot.
Do I need a ticket?
The organizer sells admission for ticketed festival activities through its official website. The craft market is listed as free. Check the page for the specific event you plan to attend, because access and seating differ by activity.
Public holidays around the festival
Public and bank holidays in France from 3 days before to 3 days after the festival ().
Shops, banks and transport should keep their normal timetable.
Editions
- 2027In 4 months
