If you’re a fruit lover and planning a trip to France, you’re in for a treat! France is home to a variety of fruit festivals that celebrate the country’s rich agricultural heritage and the bounty of its orchards. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top fruit festivals in France that you won’t want to miss this summer.
French fruit festivals 2023
Fête de la Mirabelle, Metz
The Mirabelle plum festival has been unmissable in Metz, capital of the Lorraine region, since 1947. Street activities, concerts, balls, a Mirabelle market, plus a parade and the election of a Mirabelle queen are on the agenda. It’s held at the end of August each year.
Next date: August 20 to August 28, 2023
Visit website here (French only).
Fête de la Figue, Solliès
The last weekend of August is a date to add to your diary for the annual Fête de a Figue, when this beautiful purple fruit is celebrated. Friday evening sees a arge fig-based meal; a market brings together producers and artisan makers of fig-based products throughout the weekend; guided tours of the fig fields are a must; and there are high-cass chefs producing fig dishes. Oh, and the fig knights are blessed. Yes, really!
Next date: August 25 to August 27, 2023
Address: Place Général de Gaulle, 83210 Solliès-Pont
Visit website here.
French fruit festivals 2024
Menton Lemon Festival
With its carnival atmosphere, the Fête du Citron is one of France’s most famous and best loved annual parties. It has been held each year during the second fortnight of February since 1934. There’s always a theme, with a huge carnival parade through the streets and enormous structures decorated with citrus fruit. More than 250,000 people attended the last event.
Next date: February 17 to March 3, 2024
Visit website here.
Fête Des Cerises, Westhoffen
The pretty vilage of Westhoffen, tucked against the foothills of the Vosges mountains west of Strasbourg, doesn’t give its name to a specific variety of cherry but it is regarded as the capital of cherry-growing in Alsace. The orchards, which grow many different varieties of cherry, are filled with blossom in spring and in mid-June, the vilage pays homage, with a day’s festivities culminating in a grand ball.
Next date: June 16, 2024
Visit their Facebook page here.
Fête de la Fraise, Beaulieu-Sur-Dordogne
Every second Sunday in May in picture-perfect Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne – the self-procaimed heart of strawberry country – is devoted to these summer fruits. There are, of course, strawberries from local producers for sale, and there’s plenty of entertainment. But the highlight has to be the enormous strawberry tart that’s created for the occasion; the town holds the world record for the largest ever made!
Visit website here (French only).
Article adapted from Taste of France Issue Four.
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