December is always a festive time in Mystic, Connecticut. I enjoy capturing all the trees and lights. The month started out strong with a few beautiful sunsets like these:
I adore the dock trees! It’s such a fun tradition that I look forward to photographing every year. There’s plenty of them along Mystic River.
Mystic River Park tree seemed to be the largest tree we’ve had in a few years! It was a gorgeous tree and I’ve enjoyed seeing it at night time many times through out the month.
Stonington always deck the hulls so beautifully — can’t miss the annual lobster trap tree. I love looking at all the artwork on the buoys!
December is the only time that I actually go photographing in the dark. Each year I make sure that I go to Downtown when it’s all lighted up and capture the beauty!
Dock trees are cute but so are the… boat trees!
Noank is a great spot too — Haring’s Christmas tree is in an excellent location for photographing! It’s right by the water and I always try to capture at least one with Morgan Point Lighthouse in the background. I also hop over to Groton Long Point to see this annual dock tree and was jolly to see this inflatable Santa too!
I closed out the holidays season with seeing this beautiful tree at Fort Rachel Marina on Christmas Day. It was my first year being in Connecticut on Christmas Day — and I enjoyed a FISHmas meal from a local seafood market!
There’s nothing like the holidays on the shoreline!
The photos were captured in Mystic, Stonington, Noank and Groton Long Point in December 2025. Most photos are available for purchase (Stonington Lobster Trap Tree images are not available as it is copyrighted). Please make request here.