New England Town’s Quintessential Christmas Tree is a Copyrighted Masterpiece

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions, or personal experiences.

We are so about out Christmas trees here in New England, plus we get so creative with our buoy trees and lobster trap trees.  There aren't too many places that can claim such a hometown, unique feel for the holidays.

And when I ran across this Christmas tree paying homage to a New England town's fishing industry, I was so wishing it around the corner rather than in Stonington, Connecticut. Its fresh, unique and festive approach is beyond welcoming, and even interactive.  The town Christmas tree, made of lobster traps and buoys, stands at an impressive 35 feet tall with more than 1,000 lights.  Talk about spectacular.

But that's not all.  You can literally go into the tree for some festive, Instagram-worthy photos.

According to the Stonington Lobster Trap Tree Facebook page, they start building it in mid-November. The tree consists of 420 lobster traps, and 420 buoys as ornaments. To no one's surprise, the residents of the small, coastal town of Stonington celebrate it to the fullest.

Now, if you're surprised you've never seen it or heard of this tree before, it's because this is only its second year with the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce.  The Stonington Lobster Trap Tree even has its own website.

Wouldn't you love to see something so magical and passionately built in your area?  Here are some fun facts for you.​

• 181 Sponsor buoys

• 146 artist buoys available for auction

• 40 created by Stonington children

• 22 devoted to the commercial fishermen

• 19 sponsored by community members

It's not cheap, but worth every penny when you have such a community ready to make this a holiday tradition.

• $15,220 paid to artists to paint sponsor buoys

• $9,100 for all 420 buoys

• $8,000 for lobster traps

• $7,200 storage container unit

• $3,800 for lights

• $2,400 for Night of Lighting Shuttle

• $1,800 Tree Copyright

Click here to learn more.