Fresh Fruits & Vegetables – Festivals, Frolics and Fun
Magnificent flavors, colors and delights. Fruits and vegetables come into their own at these festivals
Lemon Festival on the Côte d’Azur
The “Fête du Citron” in Menton has been taking place since the 1930s. The favorable climate of the Côte d’Azur made the cultivation of lemons an important economic sector in the 19th century. The spectators are amazed when the colorful parade of floats with their works of art made of lemons and oranges sets off. The real show-stopper is the exhibition of gigantic citrus fruit sculptures in the Biovès Gardens. Some of the figures can be up to 10 meters tall and made out of several tons of fruit. The scent of lemons is everywhere and there are lemon treats on every corner. On Sundays February 18 and 25, March 3.
Apple market in Upper Bavaria
In Bad Feilnbach in October, everything revolves around the apples. With its extensive orchards of around 30,000 apple trees, the spa town near Lake Chiemsee is also known as the “Bavarian Merano”. There are not only around 200 varieties of organically grown apples and pears to see, taste and buy, but also a plethora of apple products such as schnapps, liqueurs and homemade jams. Cheese, bacon, flowers, herbs, oils and vinegar are also on offer. There is a daily musical program and performances by traditional costume groups and the apple queen. October 1 to 13.
Cherry festival in Slovenia
Around 30,000 visitors, mainly from Slovenia and its neighboring countries Italy and Austria, come to Brda every year for the Cherry Festival. The town lies on the Brda Wine Route. The cherries ripen in the vineyards around the village. Visitors can feast on fruit and cherry desserts at the cherry festival. The organized hike from cherry tree to cherry tree is a great way to burn off those extra calories. True connoisseurs will quickly realize just how well cherries and wine go together. June 8 and 9.
La Tomatina, Tomato Festival, Spain
The origins of this mass tomato battle date back to a fight amongst children in 1945 and it has been celebrated every year since then.
The “Tomatina” is held on the last Wednesday in August in the town of Buñol. This unusual fiesta brings together crowds of people every year, ready to have a great time of laughter and fun, hurling tomatoes at each other. Participants at this joyful pitched battle have a wonderful time throwing tomatoes at anything that moves.
Battle of the Oranges, Traditional carnival, Ivrea, Piedmont, Italy
For the three days leading up to Fat Tuesday, the men, women, and children participate in the largest organized food fight in Italy – the Battle of the Oranges.
The origins of the fight are a little murky but seem to date back to a medieval revolt. In the 1100s, Ivrea was ruled by an evil tyrannical duke.
Legend has it that the duke tried to attack a young miller’s daughter on her wedding night. Instead, she decapitated him and started a revolution. Following her lead, the townspeople of Ivrea stormed the palace and burned it to the ground.
Strawberry Days in Martell
From 17th June to 9th July 2023, Martell once again celebrates the most cultivated and most appreciated fruit of the valley: the strawberry! The small, tasty berries have always been popular with young and old. Almost everyone loves strawberries, and the restaurants of the valley serve delicious dishes in which the sweet berries play the leading role.
In addition, you can take part in numerous exciting activities during the Strawberry Days, where you can learn many interesting facts about the strawberry and its special characteristics. The programme includes workshops, guided hikes on the South Tyrolean Strawberry Trail, tours through the strawberry field, jam cooking classes, tastings and of course the farmers’ market with festival on the last weekend in June.
Sauerkrautfest Alsace
Nomen is omen. Krautergersheim is France’s cabbage capital. “Capitale de la choucroute” is written in large letters at the entrance to this small suburb of Strasbourg. With around 60 member companies, the region is the top producer of cabbage in France. 50,000 tons are produced here every year, which is 70 percent of the total French production. At the annual sauerkraut festival, the floats are decorated with heads of cabbage, some weighing up to seven kilos, and the alleyways and beer tents are filled to the brim. Top chefs conjure up heavenly creations – hearty, spicy, irresistible. September 28 and 29 and October 5
The 44th edition of the Meistratzheim Sauerkraut and Folklore Festival and its flea market, is organized by the Société de Musique and the folklore group Concordia from Meistratzheim. The Sauerkraut Festival is one of the largest folk events in the village and brings together various music and folklore dance groups from all over Alsace and across the Rhine.