While most of France is shivering in cold February, the
Cote d'Azur enjoys sunny days and mild temperatures, perfect weather to celebrate with parades the traditional
Mardi Gras Carnival as well as festivals dedicated to the local production of lemons and mimosa flower.
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| Nice Carnival- Courtesy Nice OT |
Parades, flower decorated floats and revelers fill the streets of
Nice to cheer the King of Carnival and its court - all giant figures made of colorful paper-mâché. This year, the theme of Carnival is "
King of Five Continents" and for fifteen days (February 15-March 6), day and night, parades of flower bedecked floats accompanied by thousands of musicians will snake along the coastal seafront on
Promenade des Anglais and
Avenue Massena, Nice's main artery, loudly cheered by delirious crowds. Unique to Nice's carnival are the flower battles in which at top floats armful of flowers are tossed to the happy crowds. Ninety percent of the flowers used at the parades are produced locally --jasmine, gladiolus, mimosa, daisies, carnations and roses --allowing the region on this occasion to showcase the quality and variety of its local production.
If Mardi Gras revelry was not enough, celebrants can enjoy two other traditional festivals on the Côte d'Azur honoring local products-
Menton's famous lemon and the
Mimosa Festival in Mandelieu la Napoule.
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| Menton Lemon Festival |
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the
Menton Lemon Festival, one of the French Riviera most popular events. For two weeks in February, this pretty sunny town on the border of France and Italy celebrates the local citrus with parade floats and giant artistic arrangements made of the yellow and orange fruits.( February 16-March 16). http://www.fete-du-citron.com/
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Mimosa Festival-
Courtesy Mandelieu la Napoule |
Not to be outdone, the coastal resort town of
Mandelieu la Napoule, situated a few kilometers west of Nice celebrates the local mimosa. This flower originally from Australia was introduced in Esterel and Tanneron massifs in the mid 19th century and when the mimosa blooms in January and February covering the countryside in vivid yellow carpets, it is time for Mandelieu to invite the world to discover and celebrate the flower that made the town and region's fortune as it is used in perfume with what else?... parades, floats, artistic floral displays, flower battles and musical entertainment.
(February 15-24) http://www.mandelieu.com
tags: French Riviera, Nice Carnival, Menton Lemon Festival, Mimosa Festival in Mandelieu la Napoule
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