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 pm on February 20, 27 and March 6, 2011. There are creative masks and sumptuous costumes on the participants, who shower the public in confetti. Fanfares twirl and zigzag around 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 pm, 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 depicted in giant sculptures, constructed out of nearly 15 tons of yellow and orange citrus fruits. Hours for the Citrus Exhibition in the Jardins Biovès are 9 am to 6 pm weekdays, and on weekends from 9 am to 7 pm. This year’s theme is “The Great Civilizations”.

At the Gardens of Light, again in the Biovès Gardens, visitors will watch a display of illuminated creatures and chaotic sounds unfurl out of the darkness at 8:30 pm, February 18, 22, 25 and March 4, 2011.

If lemons weren’t enough, there’s an Orchid Festival at at the Palais de l’Europe, hosted by an association of orchid and plant lovers from France.

WHAT: Fête du Citron
WHERE:Menton, France (map)
WHEN: February 18-March 9, 2011

(Image courtesy of Fête du Citron)