3 Lobster Trap Trees in Connecticut to Visit This Christmas (2025)

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Kitschy. Eclectic. Fine art. Unique. Quintessentially New England.

Christmas trees made out of lobster traps and decorated with buoys could be called many things, and this quirky community trend goes to show New Englanders know how to make the cold, dark days of winter enjoyable. The first tree of its kind may be credited to Gloucester, Massachusetts more than 20 years ago, but other New England states have since jumped into the fun. 

Here in Connecticut, there are three locations on the shoreline where you can check out some lobster trap Christmas trees. 

CT’s lobster pot trees range from big-enough-to-walk-inside to not-much-taller-than-the-average-person. Keep reading to find out more about this free holiday activity in Connecticut! 

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree

The mother of all lobster trap trees in Connecticut, you can’t miss this one in Stonington. It’s a fun stop if you’re visiting Mystic at Christmastime. 

Started in 2021, this tree is now a very popular town tradition. 

It’s made of hundreds of lobster traps, dons a 5-foot tall anchor “star” on top, and is even tall enough to walk inside. Located at the town docks, the Stonington tree celebrates the town’s still-active fishing industry. 

The lobster buoys are decorated by everyone from local children to professional artists to business sponsors, and there are live musical events throughout the season. After the tree comes down in early January, the buoys from professional artists are auctioned off. 

You might have the space all to yourself if you visit at sunrise, like I did. While I was hoping the lights were on a timer for sunset and sunrise, I missed out on seeing the tree lit during the dawn hour. From the photos and reviews on Google, it seems that there’s often a line to stand inside for your photo during the lit-up evening hours (until 9:30 PM). There are volunteers during the evening hours to help with photo taking. 

Milford Lobster Trap Tree

Located at Lisman Landing Marina, this Christmas tree made of lobster cages and buoys has been going up in Milford since 2021. Members of the community can purchase and decorate buoys to be placed on the tree, which raises money for the Milford Arts Council. 

The tree is typically lit in early December and stays up until mid-January (depending on when the weather).

When I visited in 2023, I loved checking out the creative buoys with everything from a cocktail-drinking parrot to Santa Claus to a candy-striped lighthouse to a fun (popular with kids) pineapple.

Branford Lobster Trap Tree

Less showy and well-known than the other lobster trap Christmas trees in Connecticut, this one in Branford is a nice stop if you’re already nearby. 

While the tree itself is a simple stack of lobster traps, some lights, and lobster buoys (not painted like the others), it is located right on the water and has a great backdrop of the Thimble Islands.

And perhaps most fun—a small boat with a Christmas tree inside it sits in the water nearby. 

I so far haven’t been able to locate any information about who is responsible for this or what the 2025 dates are. I will update this post with more information if I can find it, so be sure to check back.

Honorable Mentions: Lobster Buoys and Apple Barrels

While I didn’t have the chance to visit either of these, and they don’t fit the strict definition of lobster trap trees, here are a couple other spots fellow CT residents mentioned:

• Niantic has individual Christmas trees decorated with lobster buoys.
• Holmberg Orchards & Winery in Gales Ferry has a tree made out of apple barrels! 

Have you visited any of these lobster trap Christmas trees in Connecticut? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!