BEL APPART LE CANNET.COM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RENTAL OF FURNISHED APARTMENTS
IN THE CITY OF CANNET
BEL APPART LE CANNET.COM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RENTAL OF FURNISHED APARTMENTS
IN THE CITY OF CANNET
Belappartlecannet.com
Do you want to discover the most beautiful activities on the French Riviera?
The ones that make you dream?
Here's a selection of the most beautiful carnivals in the Alpes-Maritimes region just for you
Colors, fragrances, and festivities…
Each year, in the heart of winter, the French Riviera transforms into a true showcase of colors, fragrances, and celebrations. The traditional Winter Festivals set the rhythm for the weeks of February and March, drawing both visitors and locals into a warm and festive atmosphere. From Menton to Mandelieu-La-Napoule, via Nice, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, and Villefranche-sur-Mer, each destination celebrates this period with its own identity and unique events that highlight the region’s heritage, flowers, and citrus fruits.
Among all these events, three carnivals stand out in particular for their scale, creativity, and spectacular themes. True highlights of the winter season, they impress with the size of their parades, the richness of their floats, and the imagination displayed in their annual themes: the Nice Carnival, the Menton Lemon Festival®, and the Mandelieu Mimosa Festival. Around these major carnivals gravitate many other celebrations, each bringing its own local and authentic touch.
Monumental citrus sculptures, flower battles, floral floats, musical parades, and fragrant festivities transform towns and villages into open-air stages. These celebrations offer another way to discover the French Riviera: strolling through lively streets, admiring the craftsmanship of local artisans, breathing in the scents of flowers and fruits, and sharing festive moments where culture, tradition, and wonder come together..
The Nice Carnaval
The Nice Carnival is among the largest winter festivities on the French Riviera and is one of the most emblematic events of the season.
For nearly two weeks, usually between mid-February and early March, the city transforms into a vast open-air stage. Streets and squares come alive to the rhythm of marching bands, spectacular parades, and street entertainment, perpetuating a festive tradition that is several centuries old and has helped make Nice
internationally renowned.
Each year, an original theme inspires the creation of the giant floats that make up the parades. These monumental works are the result of several months of work carried out in workshops by local artists, sculptors, and craftsmen. The daytime carnival parades bring together musicians, dancers, and costumed participants from around the world, creating a festive and colorful atmosphere.
At nightfall, the parades take on an entirely different dimension: illuminated floats, decorated with thousands of lights, make their way along the Promenade des Anglais and through Place Masséna, offering a magical spectacle that attracts thousands of spectators.
Practical information
When?: February 11 to March 1, 2026
Where?: Promenade des Anglais, Place Masséna and Jardins Albert I.
The Flower Battle
Among the most anticipated moments of the Nice Carnival is the famous Flower Battle. Part of the official program, it pays tribute to the floral tradition of the French Riviera and to the region’s rich horticultural heritage. From richly decorated floats, participants throw more than 100,000 fresh flowers into the crowd — mimosas, carnations, gerberas, daisies, and many other colorful varieties.
This spectacle, both visual and fragrant, creates a joyful and convivial atmosphere. The audience tries to catch the bouquets as they fly through the air, while the floats move slowly along, revealing highly creative floral arrangements. Blending tradition, art, and a spirit of sharing, the Flower Battle perfectly embodies the spirit of the Nice Carnival and invites everyone to immerse themselves in the Niçois art of living.
Practical information :
When?: February 18, 21, 25, and 28, 2026.
Where?: Jardins Albert I and Place Masséna.
Link: The Nice Carnaval
Lou Queernaval 🌈
The first gay carnival in France, Lou Queernaval is fully part of
the great festive tradition of the Nice Carnival while bringing a modern and inclusive dimension to it.
Held in the heart of the city, this vibrant event has, over the years, become a must-see highlight of Nice’s carnival celebrations.
Open to everyone, Lou Queernaval celebrates diversity and highlights values of sharing, inclusion, kindness, and living together.
In a festive and playful atmosphere, costumed participants, artists, dancers, and DJs come together to create a joyful and creative spectacle, where the carnival spirit blends with the vibrant energy of this community.
Free and accessible to all, the event is organized by Nice’s LGBTQIA+ community, with the support of the City of Nice and the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur.
Each year, it attracts a large audience who come to share in this festive moment, in a friendly and respectful atmosphere.
With humor, creativity, and a touch of extravagance, Lou Queernaval brings to life, in its own way, the full richness of the popular tradition of the Nice Carnival, celebrating it in a spirit of openness and modernity.
Practical information
When?: Friday, February 27, 2026 at 8:00 PM.
Where?: Place Masséna.
Free event – reservation required.
Link: Lou Queernaval
The Menton Lemon Festival®
Just about thirty minutes from Nice, Menton hosts each year one of the most original events on the French Riviera: the famous Menton Lemon Festival®.
For nearly three weeks, between February and March, the entire town transforms around its emblematic citrus fruit, offering a spectacle that is as surprising as it is colorful.
More than 140 tons of lemons and oranges are used to create impressive monumental sculptures. Patience and precision are required to assemble each fruit and bring these ephemeral constructions to
life—creations that have contributed to the international reputation of the Menton Lemon Festival®.
At the heart of the Jardins Biovès, these creations come to life in a spectacular setting. Famous monuments, fantastical characters, animals, and scenes inspired by history and nature appear in brilliant shades of yellow and orange. Teams of craftsmen and professionals work for several weeks to create these installations, where every detail matters.
Strolling through the gardens then becomes a true artistic and sensory exploration.
The daytime and nighttime parades complete this festive spectacle. Floats entirely decorated with citrus fruits parade through the streets of Menton, accompanied by musicians, dancers, and performers celebrating the event.
At nightfall, the illuminations enhance these creations and give the parades a magical atmosphere. The air fills with the sweet and tangy fragrance of the fruit, offering visitors an immersive and unforgettable experience at the Menton Lemon Festival®.
Practical information:
When?: February 14 to March 1, 2026
Where?: Jardin de Biovès and Promenade du Soleil
The Mimosa Festival of Mandelieu-La-Napoule
Every February, Mandelieu-La-Napoule celebrates the mimosa, the bright golden flower that heralds the end of winter on the French Riviera. A symbol of the area, mimosa has been cultivated in the surrounding hills for more than a century and is now an integral part of the town’s identity.
On the occasion of this festival, Mandelieu-La-Napoule highlights its floral expertise and invites visitors and residents to enjoy a moment of strolling and conviviality in a town entirely filled with its delicate fragrance during the Mandelieu Mimosa Festival.
For several days, streets and squares are dressed in a brilliant shade of yellow. Floral decorations cover façades, markets, and public spaces, creating a warm and luminous atmosphere in Mandelieu-La-Napoule.
The air fills with a soft and delicate fragrance, while passersby take time to admire the arrangements created by artisans and flower enthusiasts during the Mandelieu Mimosa Festival.
The flower parade is the highlight of the celebration. Magnificent floats, decorated with thousands of mimosa bouquets, parade through the streets of Mandelieu-La-Napoule to the rhythm of music.
Around them, dancers and costumed participants bring the procession to life and hand out flowers to the crowd, creating a joyful and interactive atmosphere where everyone can take part in the festivities of the Mandelieu Mimosa Festival
The streets also come alive with street performances, craft stalls, and tastings of regional specialties. Together, they create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that invites visitors to stroll, meet others, and fully enjoy the moment.
The Mandelieu Mimosa Festival thus becomes an ideal outing for families or friends, combining sensory pleasures, discovery, and the celebration of the French Riviera’s heritage
Practical information:
When?: February 11 to 15, 2026
Where?: Capitou and the seaside district of La Napoule
Link: Mimosa Festival
The Flowered Naval Battle of Villefranche-sur-Mer
In the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Flowered Naval Battle offers a spectacle that is as original as it is poetic. Traditionally organized during the winter festivities, alongside the Nice Carnival, this event combines maritime traditions with floral celebration in one of the most beautiful natural settings on the French Riviera.
For the occasion, traditional boats richly decorated with fresh flowers take their place on the turquoise waters of the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The crews, dressed in costumes according to a theme chosen for each edition, greet the public gathered on the quays and along the port.
When the signal is given, the “battle” begins: from the boats, thousands of multicolored petals are thrown onto the water and toward the spectators, forming a floating carpet of flowers that gently drifts with the waves
The atmosphere is both festive and delicate. The gentle lapping of the boats accompanies the laughter of children trying to catch the flowers as they fall, while the colorful costumes of the participants shimmer under the Mediterranean sun.
In the background, the pastel façades of the old town and the Citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer add
a historical and picturesque touch to the scene.
Strolling along the harbor, breathing in the fragrance of the flowers, and watching the boats glide across the water turns this celebration into a true sensory experience.
Blending local tradition, live spectacle, and an exceptional natural setting, the Flowered Naval Battle perfectly embodies the festive and convivial spirit of Villefranche-sur-Mer, delighting both young and old alike.
Practical information
When?: Monday, February 16, 2026
Where?: In the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer
Schedule?: From 11:00 AM – Parade of folk groups at L’Octroi
1:30 PM – Carnival parade along the quays at Port de la Santé
2:00 PM – Flowered Naval Battle and flower battles on the water. From their flower-decorated traditional boats (pointus), the boatmen will throw showers of flowers toward the spectators — Port de la Santé.
Depuis leurs pointus fleuris, les bateliers lanceront des volées de fleurs en direction des spectateurs - Port de la Santé.
After the battle: Carnival entertainment at Place Amélie Pollonnais, along the quay and on Rue du Poilu.
🎭
It should not be forgotten that around Mardi Gras, and sometimes even well after this date, many towns and villages across the Alpes-Maritimes also organize their own festivities. In villages as well as in larger towns, these events extend the carnival spirit and offer moments of celebration open to everyone.
Depending on the municipality, the celebrations take many forms: costumed parades, small themed carnivals, gourmet festivals highlighting local specialties, or eco-friendly initiatives favoring recycled materials and sustainable entertainment. Floats decorated by residents, children’s workshops, street performances, and tastings create a warm and family-friendly atmosphere.
Often deeply rooted in local traditions, these gatherings provide another way to discover the region. They invite visitors to wander through lively streets, meet local residents, and share festive moments where creativity, heritage, and conviviality come together to prolong the spirit of carnival.
Ce site web utilise les cookies. Veuillez consulter notre politique de confidentialité pour plus de détails.