We Wish You a Buoy Christmas

By Phyllis Ford

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree.

We all love seeing what people make with their beach finds. But what happens when a whole town gets in on the process, and the beach finds are lobster buoys and traps? Check out these festive displays from some creative beachcombers that celebrate local roots in maritime industry.

Lobster Trap Tree

Stonington, Connecticut

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree.

Lisa Konicki is the Tree Founder of the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree, the largest outdoor holiday exhibit of professional artwork in New England. Each year since its founding in 2021, 460 buoys are displayed on the tree, with 420 of them painted by professional artists from Rhode Island and Connecticut, and 40 painted by local children.

“The project is a labor of love and is worked on year-round due to its size and the number of artists that we engage,” says Lisa. It has been a major attraction in the state of Connecticut and Stonington. Volunteers turn the lights on and staff this free exhibit every night for six weeks.

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree, Jean St. Denis.

Beachcomber Jean St. Denis loves the lobster trap in Stonington. “Local artists paint and decorate buoys to hang on it,” she says. “After the season, many of them are auctioned off to raise money for the project.”

“The economic impact has been significant, but even more importantly, it brings a significant amount of joy to over 50,000 visitors each year,” Lisa adds. “Our tree was named one of the 16 most amazing trees in the world by BBC News in 2021!” Carolers visit to sing inside the tree, and last year nine couples even got engaged in the tree.

Visit lobstertraptree.com for information and check out the “Stonington Lobster Trap Tree” Facebook page, where they feature two buoys each day leading up to the official lighting.

Lobster Buoy Tree

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Mark Gimbel.

In the summer of 2020, Mark Gimbel was trying to think of a way for the community to enjoy the holidays during the height of Covid. “It literally was one of those shower epiphanies,” says Mark. He decided to bring a group of people together to create a tree made from lobster buoys. “I realized it needed to be impressive so I reached out to Knickerbocker Group to see if an architect would assist with the project.”

Mark Gimbel.

They ended up engineering a tree that could be used year after year and contacted with Mainely Buoy in Bangor, Maine, to produce the 1,200 buoys used in construction. “They are hand-turned and hand-painted cedar, each weighing 1.2 pounds,” Mark explains.

Mark Gimbel.

Mark brought together ten local businesses that donated the $10,000 initial cost. “A relative of mine donated the copper lobster weathervane which is our version of a star.”

Memorial Buoy Tree

Eastham, Massachusetts

Ann Scalley.

Eastham native James Filliman created a buoy tree every year in his yard and lit it up for the holidays. James was a clammer, builder, and beachcomber, and loved using his beach finds in projects like the buoy tree. His original tree was made from around 200 buoys that he hand tied to a driftwood trunk to create his beautiful Cape Cod Christmas tree.

When Jimmy passed away in March 2018, hundreds of community members joined forces to continue the tradition of building a buoy tree. They collected materials and built a permanent tree on the Eastham Windmill Green. The tree now serves as a year-round tribute to James. As the plaque next to the tree reads, “Here stands a testament to Eastham’s true community spirit.”

Buoy Tree Project

Vermilion, Ohio

Janet Hannaway.

Janet Hannaway loves everything nautical, and she saw a post on the Mystic Knotworks Facebook page in November of 2022 about a buoy tree they were working on. “I was fascinated with the idea,” she says. “Vermilion is a cute coastal community with a history of boat building and once had a thriving fishing industry.” Janet reached out to organizers who had made a buoy tree in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and they helped her explain to her small Midwest community exactly what a buoy tree was.

Janet worked with Public Art Vermilion to announce the project. “The goal was to use this tree to provide Vermilion with a seasonal temporary art installation as well as a community project that would engage the community and local businesses, while also highlighting the culture and history of our small town on a great lake,” Janet says.

They worked with volunteers to build the base of the twelve-foot tree from wood and chicken wire, clear-coat the 300+ buoys to protect them, and to get a donation of the rope to hang the buoys. “Buoys were decorated by individuals, families, friends, neighbors, book clubs, students, service organizations, and local businesses.” Janet adds, “It was a wonderful collaboration!” This year the group will add twinkling lights for nighttime viewing.

Lobster Buoy Tree

Kittery, Maine

Kelly Philbrook.

Kelly Philbrook and Steve Lawrence have joined forces each year since 2021 to create a holiday tree made of decorated lobster buoys.

Kelly Philbrook.

To raise money, they sell buoys that have been purchased by the group or donated by local lobstermen.

Phyllis Ford.

Community members and businesses can purchase a buoy to decorate, and the proceeds are donated to local charities.

Phyllis Ford.

My Junior Girl Scout troop in Kittery Point, Maine, participates in the Kittery Lobster Buoy Tree by decorating buoys for the tree. Our scouts have decorated buoys for the tree for the past few years. Proceeds in 2023 were donated to the Fuel & More program, which helps locals who can’t afford heat and other supplies during winters.

More trees to check out

Key West, Florida (Chuck Wagner/Shutterstock.com). Gloucester, Massachusetts (Melissa Arvilla). Wells, Maine (Gregory Szymbor/Shutterstock.com).]

You can find lobster trap trees, lobster pot trees, and lobster buoy trees in towns from Maine to Florida. Here are just a few places you may want to visit:

Key West, Florida • Kennebunkport, Maine • Rockland, Maine • Trenton, Maine • Wells, Maine • York, Maine • Dartmouth, Massachusetts • Gloucester, Massachusetts • Plymouth, Massachusetts • Provincetown, Massachusetts • North Ferrisburgh, Vermont

What does your community do to decorate for the holidays?

Comment below!

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 45 November/December 2024.