“Corso” is the word widely used in Mediterranean countries to refer to carnival-type parades. In Menton, since 1954 a number of the sponsors who created static displays like those shown in my previous article (www.worldisround.com/articles/344556/index.html) have also commissioned floats for the afternoon and evening corsos. Each float weighs between three and four tonnes, because of their steel and mesh frameworks, riders, and the sheer weight of the citrus fruits. More information about their construction is available at www.menton.com/uk/lemons/couliss.htm .

Of course there were marching bands, dancing girls, and other creative participants between the floats too, during the afternoon parade which lasted about an hour and forty minutes.

For an excellent presentation of displays, floats and both afternoon and evening parades from previous years, go to www.feteducitron.com/photos-fete-du-citron_global.html . Don’t be daunted if you don’t read French: pictures speak for themselves. Just scroll half-way down the page and click on “Autres photographies … ”. You’ll be glad you did.

1980 marked the first time that the Menton Citrus Festival attracted more than 100,000 visitors. The number has steadily increased, and this year about a quarter million attended. Its attendance may never match that of the much larger Carnaval de Nice, but it has now surpassed the Grand Prix de Monaco as the year’s second most important tourist attraction on the Côte d’Azur.