Every winter, downtown Boothbay Harbor glows with more than holiday lights — it’s the Giant Wooden Pot Buoy Tree, standing over 20 feet tall and adorned with more than 1,000 hand-painted lobster pot buoys.
Symbols of Heritage
These buoys aren’t just colorful decorations. In Maine, every lobsterman registers their own unique buoy colors with the state, and many of these designs are handed down through generations — almost like a family tartan. Each buoy on the tree symbolizes a story: the families who fish these waters, the sea they work on, and a maritime tradition that has endured for decades.
A Labor of Community Love
The tree itself is a labor of love. Local businesses and friends gather each year to assemble it, (and you can come help!) while the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce stores the buoys in its basement during the off-season, keeping them safe until they’re ready to shine again.
Small-Town Magic
During Boothbay Lights, the tree becomes a hub of small-town magic. Visitors and locals alike pause to admire the colors, snap photos, and soak in a moment that feels uniquely Boothbay. There’s even a Pot Buoy Selfie Contest: take a picture at the tree, send it in and enter weekly drawings for Yiftee e-gift cards — a fun way to celebrate the season and support the businesses that help make it all possible.
More Than a Holiday Display
The Giant Wooden Pot Buoy Tree is a living testament to Boothbay Harbor’s maritime heritage, community spirit, and the symbolic stories carried on every buoy that lights up the winter night.
Throughout the six sparkling weeks of Boothbay Lights, the Pot Buoy Tree is just one of many festive events and displays bringing the harbor to life — explore the lights, enjoy the activities, and discover the charm of our seaside community this holiday season. Learn more at www.boothbaylights.com
