Nice Carnival, Menton Lemon Festival and Hand Stitching

16th – 22nd February 2027

Every February, the French Riviera bursts into colour, creativity, and citrus-scented celebration with two of its most dazzling events: the Nice Carnival and the Menton Lemon Festival. These two world-famous festivals transform the Côte d’Azur into a vibrant playground of parades, costumes, and giant sculptures. From the dazzling floats and flower battles of Nice to the fantastical citrus creations of Menton, this unique holiday experience, in the company of our experts, is sure to provide inspiration for many textile projects for the year to come!

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Accommodation

You will stay for six nights at the 4-star Neho Suites Cannes Croisette Hotel.

The 4-star Neho Suites Cannes Croisette is a stylish, contemporary hotel set just moments from the famous La Croisette and its sandy beaches. Offering spacious, modern bedrooms with sleek interiors, it provides a comfortable retreat in the heart of Cannes. With easy access to shopping, dining, and the Palais des Festivals. The hotel is an ideal base for enjoying both the glamour and everyday charm of the French Riviera.

Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrival

With our flight-inclusive package, meet Carolyn Forster and your Tour Manager at a London airport for your flight to Nice. On arrival, we will be met by our coach and driver, and transfer to our hotel in Cannes on the French Riviera, a city where elegance and relaxation meet by the water.

If you have booked our join direct package, meet us at the hotel.

Join Carolyn, your Tour Manager and fellow crafters for dinner this evening.

Included meal: Dinner

Day 2 Cannes Walking Tour and Workshop

A buffet breakfast will be served in the hotel this morning.

Best known for its world-famous film festival, Cannes combines red-carpet elegance with everyday Mediterranean charm. This morning, we will explore the city on a walking tour, where glamour and history unfold at every turn. We’ll pass sandy beaches and luxury boutiques along La Croisette before heading inland to the old quarter of Le Suquet. There, winding cobblestone streets lead to sweeping views over the harbour, where sleek yachts lie moored side by side, before we descend towards lively local cafés and markets that capture the relaxed rhythm of daily life on the French Riviera.

After some free time for lunch, we’ll enjoy our first hand-stitching workshop with Carolyn at the hotel. Refreshments will be served during the workshop.

Enjoy this evening at leisure.

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 3 Menton Lemon Festival and Night Parade

This afternoon, we travel to the beautiful harbour resort of Menton to enjoy everything that the Lemon Festival (Fete du Citron) has to offer.

In 1928, Menton was the main producer of lemons on the European continent. A hotelier had the idea of organising a private exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits in the gardens of the Riviera Hotel. The event’s success was such that the following year, the municipality took up the idea and the name “Fête du Citron” was born in 1934. The Lemon Festival combines traditional carnival events with a celebration of Menton’s reputation as Europe’s lemon capital. Today, Menton is known for the quality of lemons it produces, which are sought after by chefs from across the region.

On arrival, enjoy some free time to discover some of the highlights of the festival, such as the Citrus Sculpture Gardens, the heart of the event showcasing larger-than-life lemon masterpieces, the Orchid Festival and Crafts Fair before taking our seats for this evening’s parade.

Floats, adorned with lemons and oranges, parade in a symphony of light and colour. Lively music, dancers and performers bring joyful energy worthy of the greatest street spectacles. We’ll enjoy this unique and dazzling experience under the stars.

We return to Cannes and our hotel.

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 4 Workshop

Following your buffet breakfast, today we include a full-day hand-sewing workshop with Carolyn in the hotel. Refreshments will be served morning and afternoon. Enjoy free time for lunch.

The evening is free for you to enjoy at leisure.

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 5 Nice and Nice Carnival

After your buffet breakfast, we visit the fashionable resort of Nice, the second largest French city on the Mediterranean coast. On arrival, there will be free time to have lunch, visit the old town, with its pastel façades and ornate balconies, and the vibrant Promenade des Anglais, with its grand hotels and exclusive boutiques.

Nice Carnival is the most important winter event on the Cote d’Azur. Two weeks of festivities bring the city to life, the highlight of which is the iconic Flower Parade. This afternoon, we’ll take our seat for this one-of-a-kind event, involving a convoy of colourful floats, costumed models and up to 100,000 flowers thrown to an enthusiastic crowd. The festival originated in 1876, when simple exchanges of flowers were organised to entertain the tourists. Very quickly the tradition grew into flower parades to honour the work of local flower producers.

We will return to Cannes late afternoon.

Included meal: Breakfast

Day 6 Workshop

Following a buffet breakfast, we enjoy a final full-day hand-sewing workshop with Carolyn in the hotel. Refreshments will be served morning and afternoon. There will be free time for lunch.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner