Lemon Festival and Carnival on the Côte d’Azur in February

A visit to the Côte d’Azur is always worthwhile. This popular holiday area extends over part of the eastern Mediterranean coast and continues to the Italian border. Well-known places on the French Riviera, as the Côte d’Azur is also called, include Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Antibes and Nice. The principality of Monaco can also be found on the Côte d’Azur. Tourists and the international jet set visit this southern French coast for the picturesque villages, the beautiful beaches and the exclusive clubs. In the sometimes boring month of February you can also enjoy the Fête du Citron and the grand carnival in Nice.

Fête du Citron in Menton

When life gives you lemons… you build a festival around them. That is the case in the town of Menton, a stone’s throw from the Italian Riviera. The Fête du Citron takes place here every year. From 15 February to 2 March 2025, everything revolves around this famous lemon festival. And many people come to it. Every year, the two-week festival attracts around 200,000 visitors.

The Fête du Citron has existed since 1934. At that time, Menton was – and still is – known for its lemon cultivation. A hotelier wanted to do something with that and came up with an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits. From the hotel garden, this exhibition spread further and further, until it became the famous festival that it is today.

Lemon sculptures and street parades

Vijftien dagen lang draait het in Menton helemaal om citroenen en andere citrusvruchten. Beroemd zijn de enorme sculpturen waar soms wel vijftien ton aan vruchten voor nodig zijn. Verder kunnen bezoekers genieten van onder meer een corso met praalwagens, straatshows met zang en dans, exposities, concerten en rondleidingen door de citroengaarden. Ook is op het citroenfestival een orchideeëntentoonstelling te bezoeken.

Click here for the complete programme and tickets for the Fête du Citron.

Celebrate Carnival in style in Nice

Are you not done partying on the Côte d’Azur yet? Then you can enjoy the carnival in Nice during the same period. This has been around since 1873 and will take place this year from February 12 to March 2, 2025. This festival is considered the most important international carnival in France. According to the organization, this is also the most important winter event on the Côte d’Azur. Would the organization of the Fête du Citron agree? Although the carnival in Nice is a huge party. For two weeks, there is plenty of spectacle in the southern French city, full of music and color.

A king and queen have been crowned for the carnival. There are carnival parades with gigantic floats, there is a flower parade and many more festivities. Nice even has the first queer carnival in France, the Lou Queernaval.

Want to know more about the carnival in Nice? Watch here

Camping on the Côte d'Azur

Do you want to enjoy the Fête du Citron or the carnival in Nice in February?
Then go camping on the Côte d’Azur. For example, you can go to camping parc Saint-Michel in Menton. Of course, you can also look for another campsite or camper place.