FEBRUARY AGENDA
Anyone who lives on the French Riviera knows that February is the month of carnival, mimosa and lemons!
Here’s a roundup of the three key events on the Côte d’Azur that native residents and expats alike won’t want to miss. Our journey takes us from Mandelieu, west of Cannes, to Menton, a charming little town on the Italian border. We’ll also pass through Nice, capital of the Côte d’Azur and, in February, capital of the Carnival.
Here we go!
The Mandelieu Mimosa Festival
February 14-18, 2024.
It was at the end of the 19th century that the mimosa, originally from Australia, first appeared in the south of France. And it loved our climate so much! From then on, many mimosa growers have cultivated this tree and sold huge quantities of flowers all over the world.
The Mimosa Festival, first held in Mandelieu-la-Napoule in 1931, is therefore a truly popular festival, celebrating an important local culture and economy from the 19th century.
The theme of this popular festival on the Côte d’Azur is « Sport en folie », a nod to the Paris Olympic Games. The program includes a children’s carnival, shows with parades (the corsos), night parades, brass bands…
THE MIMOSA FESTIVAL, A MAINSTREAM CELEBRATION
For 4 days, Mandelieu transforms itself by coloring its streets with the bright yellow of the mimosa.
The festivities kick off on February 14 with the children’s carnival and the flowering of the Chapelle Notre Dame des Mimosas. The festival, which delights adults and children alike, ends on Sunday, February 18 with a grand flower parade! All of this takes place in Mandelieu la Napoule
MIMOSA FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Highlights of the Fête du Mimosa include : –
- Night-time shows in La Napoule
– Night-time parade with fanfare from the Capitou district to the town center
– Grand Corso Fleuri on the seafront promenade, Avenue Henry Clews.
The program:
Wednesday, February 14 During the
day: Fleurissement de la Chapelle Notre Dame des Mimosas
Afternoon: Place de France > Le Carnaval des Enfants
Thursday, February 15
Evening: Eglise Notre Dame du Liban > Inaugural concert
Friday, February 16
Evening: Quartier de La Napoule – Av Henry Clews > Grand Banquet and Fireworks
Saturday, February 17
Afternoon: Place de France > Entertainment and foodtrucks
Evening: From Capitou to Centre-Ville (Place de France) > Parade Nocturne
Sunday, February 18
Afternoon: Av Henry Clews > Grand Corso Fleuri
RATES
– Grand Corso Fleuri on avenue Henry Clews:
Grandstand prices:
adults: €15
children aged 2 to 17: €13
Disabled: €13
– Fun and creative workshop at the multimedia library: €10
for children aged 7 to 11.
– Miss Mandelieu election: €5
at the Centre Expo Congrès
Would you like to take part in this event that brings yellow to the streets of Mandelieu near Cannes?
Online ticketing: https://reservation.ot-mandelieu.fr/
Telephone: 04 93 93 64 64 – Email: tourisme@mandelieu.com
The Nice Carnival
February 17 to March 3, 2024
The Nice Carnival and the Niçois have a long-lasting love affair.
This year, rendez–vous from February 17 to March 3, 2024 for parades, day and night corsos, flower battles, entertainment, shows…
This year’s theme: « King of Pop Culture ». In the spotlight: manga, video games and series!
A not-to-be-missed event on the Côte d’Azur, the Nice Carnival features burlesque and magic shows, extravagant floats and elegant flower battles for all to enjoy.
CARNAVAL DE NICE PROGRAM
Opening parade
Saturday 17 at 2 p.m. Place Masséna
King, Queen, Carnavallon, carnival and floral floats, musical troupes, dancers, foreign guests… a cross-section of the Carnival’s actors come together to present themselves to the public!
The flower battle floats and the grand corso create a colorful and musical spectacle.
Illuminated carnival parade
In the evening, the floats are decked out in their most beautiful lights. Everything lights up, the visual animations are multiplied tenfold, and the arts and music troupes that animate the route offer you a veritable spectacle of sound and light.
8:30 p.m. Place Masséna
Saturday, February 17
Tuesday, February 20
Saturday, February 24th
Tuesday, February 27
Saturday, March 2nd
Daytime carnival corso
The best option for families and small children! During the day, watch the parade of floats and big heads and spend a festive, colorful afternoon in the imaginary, fairytale world of the Ymagiers and Carnavaliers.
Sunday, February 25, 2:30 p.m. Place Masséna
Floats decorated with floral arrangements form an elegant procession, where extraordinarily costumed characters, music, scents and colors combine to delight the eye! Every year, costumed actresses parade on floats adorned with enchanting flowers, showering the public with flowers.
Battle of the flowers
Wednesday, February 21
Saturday, February 24th
Wednesday, February 28
Saturday, March 2nd
Lou Queernaval
France’s first gay carnival, rooted in the Nice tradition of carnival festivities, is a popular event open to all. It promotes the values of sharing, inclusion and living together! Feathers, make-up, sequins, extravagant parades, colorful troupes and strange creatures set the carnival alight.
Friday 23rd at 8:00 pm
WHAT IS THE CARNIVAL VILLAGE?
Entertainment, shows and food stalls are organized free of charge.
Set up for the duration of the Carnival, the village is located in the heart of Nice on the Coulée Verte.
The Square Général Leclerc is the setting for artistic events, food stalls, workshops and shows for young and old alike.
Prices and opening hours
– Entrance to the Village: FREE
– Village opening hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– The Village is open throughout the Carnival.
Address:
Square du Général Leclerc on the Promenade du Paillon, near the Hotel Aston.
FREE TICKETS FOR COSTUMERS
If you’re in costume for the illuminated carnival corsi and the Grand Corso, you can enter free of charge.
So, do you want to get caught up in the madness of the Nice Carnival and live like a true Niçois?
For information and reservations
https://www.nicecarnaval.com/edition-2024/programme-officiel/
The Lemon Festival in Menton
February 17 to March 3
The Lemon Festival celebrates its 90th anniversary.
Menton, the pearl of the Côte d’Azur, opens its doors to carnival-goers from all over the world.
Head for the Promenade du Soleil, to watch the parade of citrus fruit floats.
You can admire the corsos and the incredible festive floats. You’ll be able to stroll among giant sculptures made from citrus fruits bursting with the sunshine of the Côte d’Azur. These 11-meter-high works of art can be seen at night in the « Gardens of Light », as well as during the day.
Night parades are also organized for the enjoyment of adults and children on Thursdays. And to round off the festivities, a grand fireworks display.
The town also offers its visitors free access to the craft fair and Orchid Festival. Both are located at the Palais de L’Europe.
For 2024, Menton celebrates lemons with the theme D’Olympie à Menton in honor of the Paris Olympics
LEMON FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Golden Fruit Corsos:
Sunday, February 18 and 25 and March 3
Corso by night Thursday, February 22 and 29
Plus a host of citrus-related activities for children and their parents.
The program is here.
https://www.fete-du-citron.com/-programme-.html
LES CORSOS DES FRUITS D’OR
Every Sunday, come and admire the golden fruit corsos with a breathtaking view of the seafront.
Fanfares, citrus floats, folk groups and confetti are the order of the day every afternoon.
More than 25,000 people gather to celebrate lemons and throw confetti!
Location: Promenade du Soleil, Menton
Dates : Sundays, February 18, 25 and March 03, 2024
Times: 2:30 to 4pm.
Duration: 1h30 of shows
GARDENS OF LIGHT
Thursday evenings are the night of the Lemon Festival! Street shows, folk groups and orchestras come to life as the illuminated floats parade by. Dancers and brass bands enliven the confetti-laden Sun Walk. The highlight of the show is the fireworks display over the bay at 10.30pm!
A magical moment to celebrate with family and friends!
Location: Promenade du Soleil
Dates : Thursdays, February 22 and February 29, 2024
Timetable from 9 pm to 10.30 pm
Running time: 1h30
Location: Promenade du Soleil, Menton
Dates : Sundays, February 18, 25 and March 03, 2024
Times: 2:30 to 4pm.
Duration: 1h30 of shows
BIOVÈS GARDENS
The gardens are illuminated and transformed into gardens of light.
The giant sculptures are brought to life by artistic lighting.
They add an enchanting dimension to this nocturnal stroll.
Location: Jardins Biovès avenue Boyer de Menton
Opening hours :
Open daily from 8:30 pm to 10:30 am
Length of walk: approx. 1 h
FIREWORKS – NIGHT CORSOS
Thursday evenings are the night of the Lemon Festival!
Street shows, folk groups and orchestras come to life as the illuminated floats parade by.
Dancers and brass bands enliven the confetti-laden Sun Walk.
The highlight of the show is the fireworks display over the bay at 10.30pm!
A magical moment to celebrate with family and friends!
Location: Promenade du Soleil
Dates : Thursdays, February 22 and February 29, 2024
Timetable from 9 pm to 10.30 pm
Running time: 1h30
Craft & Orchid Show
From February 11 to 26, come and meet the artisans of the Menton region.
The fair is free of charge. Located 2 steps from the Biovès gardens, in
the Palais de l’ Europe, come and taste and discover our local products.
Orange wine, lemonade, limoncello, beer,
honey, jams, olive oil… will all be on display.
Venue: Palais de
l’Europe
Dates : February 17 to March 03, 2024
Opening hours :
Saturday, February 11: 2 to 6 p.m.
Open daily: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: free
The Association des Orchidophiles et Epiphytophiles de France invites us to
discover this magnificent plant.
The Orchid Festival takes us on a
journey of scents and colors.
Admission is free and is located in the
Palais de l’ Europe, avenue de Verdun.
Venue: Palais de
l’Europe
Dates : February 17 to March 03, 2024
Admission: free
Opening hours
Saturday, February 11, 2023, opening of the Palais de l’Europe at 2pm
Open daily: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
So? why not take part in this event,
which is the pride of Menton, and fill up on vitamins?
You can book here
https://www.fete-du-citron.com/-programme-.html
