How to See the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights in NYC

Every December, the wonderful residents of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, compete to see who can set up the most eye-catching Christmas decorations. From Thanksgiving until New Years, the neighborhood becomes ablaze with lights.

If you’ve already seen the Rockefeller Center tree and visited Radio City Music Hall, Dyker Heights should be on your Christmas to-do list while you’re in NYC. Read on for my guide on how to see the Dyker Heights Christmas lights!

If you’re spending the holidays in NYC, feel free to also check out my Ultimate Guide to the Holiday Season in NYC for other ways to make your trip a memorable experience, and my Instagram guide to New York City.

WHAT AND WHERE IS DYKER HEIGHTS?

Dyker Heights is a neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn that has a fairly residential and suburban vibe. Yes, you can live in the ‘burbs and still call yourself an NYC resident!

The neighborhood has many two-family and single family detached homes, some of which you’ll swear are mini-castles complete with fountains in their front yards. Dyker Heights has tree lined streets and many of its homes boast driveways, their own garages and front lawns, all of which are rarities in NYC.

WHAT ARE THE DYKER HEIGHTS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?

Every Christmas, many residents of Dyker Heights set up extravagant Christmas decorations outside their homes. The tradition supposedly started in the 1980s when a Dyker Heights resident named Lucy Spata set up an elaborate display one Christmas.

At first, her neighbors were annoyed but then decided to try and one up her and it’s snowballed ever since. It’s estimated that 100,000 people visit Dyker Heights each Christmas season to see these famous lights.

It’s no secret that many of the residents don’t hang their Christmas lights themselves. When we visited the Dkyer Heights Christmas lights, you could see signage on some of the homes advertising the professional decorating companies who had set up the displays.

HOW TO GET THERE AND TOURS

To get to Dyker Heights by subway, take the D Train to 79th St and New Utrecht Ave and walk about 15-20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the R Train to 86th Street station and walk about 15 minutes to the heart of Dyker Heights.

The most elaborate lights are generally on display from 11th to 13th Avenues (aka Dyker Heights Blvd) between 83rd and 86th Streets, although you will start seeing displays from about 80th street onward.

Don’t bother walking down 13th Avenue to see any lights. 13th Avenue is where you’ll find delis and restaurants if you need a pit stop. Things definitely close on the early side in Dyker Heights, other than a Dunkin’ Donuts that’s open until 10 pm (but that does not have a bathroom), so I recommend bringing your own snacks and hot cocoa.

We had to use the bathroom at a very friendly tattoo shop and didn’t have dinner until we got home at 11 pm. So, I’d recommend that you be more organized than me and actually plan ahead!

If you have a car, you can drive to Dyker Heights but you may find it hard to find parking in the area. I was surprised to see police officers controlling traffic on the busiest streets during my visit. Ideally, you should park at least a few blocks away and walk. We drove and parked about a 1/2 mile away on 13th Avenue near the Dunkin’ Donuts.

You can also see the Dyker Heights Christmas lights with an organized tour. A Slice of Brooklyn offers bus tours of Dyker Heights during the holiday season. Free Tours by Foot offers a walking tour of the neighborhood that meets at Atlantic Terminal Mall in downtown Brooklyn.

WHEN TO GO

Most residents of Dyker Heights start putting up their lights right before or after Thanksgiving. To make sure you get the full experience, I recommend visiting the Dyker Heights Christmas lights in mid-December.

Ideal visiting hours are from dusk until about 9 pm. We went during a weekday from about 8 pm until 10 pm and at times the sidewalks were very crowded when the tour groups went by. Although crowds thin as the night goes on, you run the risk that some houses will start turning their lights off the later it gets.

If you’re visiting the Dyker Heights Christmas lights specifically to take photos, bring a tripod and some patience!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expect to see a combination of wacky, playful and elegant Christmas decorations! Some of the homes will be piping Christmas music from outdoor speakers, one or two may have a date when Santa is scheduled to make an appearance, and others will be collecting donations for worthy causes and local charities.

Where to Stay During Your Visit

If you’re looking for a trendy place to stay in Brooklyn before exploring these fun, wacky and tacky lights in Dyker Heights, some great hotel options are:

• 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge has incredible views of Manhattan
• The Williamsburg Hotel is in a trendy neighborhood and great views
• The William Vale is also in a trendy neighborhood and has great views

It can be hard to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights on the subway if you’re coming from Brooklyn, some trendy Manhattan hotels that are close to the subway to Dkyer Heights are:

• The Arlo Soho has a chic scene and a great location
• The NoMo Soho has great views from within the city
• CitizenM Times Square is one of the more trendy options in Times Square

If you’re been to the Dkyer Heights Christmas lights, which house was your favorite?

xx

Vicki

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