Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

12/20/2022

**Updated : December 2022**
This post may also contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase a product via these links, with no extra cost to you!

What are the Dyker Lights?

The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights began in the 80's by a woman named Lucy Spata. Inspired to continue a tradition her mother began, the neighborhood wasn't always in on creating this wonderful masterpiece of Christmas lights. Now, this entire neighborhood of homes in Brooklyn goes all out to decorate their houses from head to toe in all the best Christmas lights and decorations - lights, blow-ups, fake snow, Santas, you name it. Not to mention, these houses themselves will blow your minds with their fountains, winding staircases, and columns lining their houses and ranging on average from $1,000,000 to much, much more. You’ll even find hot chocolate stands throughout the area as well as local vendors selling t-shirts and toys.

How to See the Lights

These festive lights and decor are put up beginning the third Thursday of November, and can be seen every night from dusk until about 9 or 10 pm. They begin coming down around early to mid January. Although there are tours available, we highly recommend taking an Uber nearby or taking the subway and walking, which is what we did. We were honestly a little unsure about walking in the dark, but quickly found out there were many others doing the same, and that Dyker Heights is actually one of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Subway directions are also pretty easy, even if you’re uncomfortable or haven’t ridden one before. Just grab a metro card at one of the ticket booths at every subway station, and ride Line D to 79th Street or Line R to 86th Street, from there you can walk! It’s also worth noting that typically most houses will not put out the baby Jesus of each nativity set until Christmas Eve.

Our Best Tips for Visiting

Do NOT drive. This neighborhood is crowded, and parking anywhere near New York City can be difficult, so if you choose to drive you’ll most likely be stuck in the car for hours. We highly recommend taking the subway - you can either take Line D to 79th Street or Line R to 86th Street. There were plenty of people taking the subway with us, and Dyker Heights is one of the best areas in Brooklyn.
Dress warm. This is winter and New York can get chilly! When we visited it was about 32 degrees, and our ears were still getting cold in the wind near the end of our adventure. Think wool socks, boots, a jacket, mittens, hat, and a scarf. We also highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes for all the walking!
Bring something warm to drink and a snack! There are hot chocolate stands throughout the area, but the one we saw charged $5 a cup, which can add up fast if you’re with a large group. Try bringing a thermos instead with hot apple cider or hot cocoa with some snacks to munch on!
Be respectful. These are peoples homes. Even though there are quite a few signs everywhere telling Christmas lights viewers to stay off the homes' property, we saw a handful of people climbing in yards and up to front doors to take a picture. Don’t be those people. This is a huge no-no, and some houses have even gone as far to put up caution tape crossing off their walkways. Keep your eyes out for garbage bins/bags and make use of them! Treat the area like you would if you lived here.
ENJOY & HAVE FUN. We spent around 2 hours here and loved every minute. We loved all the decorations, fake snow, and spending time with other Christmas lights enthusiasts! We hope you love it as much as us!