Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Guide (Tips by a Local)
So you want to visit the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights? You’re probably wondering, can I do this on my own or should I join a tour?
As someone who visits this festive display of lights every season (sometimes multiple times) I am going to give you all the information you need to decide, should I do this on my own (spoiler alert, it’s really easy to do so) or should I join a tour?
New York during the holidays is quite magical, but also VERY busy. It’s the busiest time of year to visit, so if you think coming over to Dyker Heights is escaping the Midtown crowds, you’d be wrong! It gets very crowded here, too, as it’s a very popular place to see the spectacle of lights this neighborhood puts on!
This residential neighborhood takes Christmas pageantry to a whole new level, just like something you’d see in one of your favorite holiday movie classics! And better yet, many of the homes also use their display of lights to raise funds for charitable causes!
This guide to visiting the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights will cover everything you need to know about visiting and creating your own DIY Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour, or if you’d rather have someone show you, we have that option at the end of this guide as well!
We will cover the following:
- Brief history
- When the lights are on display
- How to get to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights (with public transit & tips for if you drive)
- How to find the most popular houses (with addresses)
- Tips for visiting (plus where to eat)
- Dyker Heights Christmas lights tours – if you end up deciding that’s the best option for you
Oh, and if you need help planning your holiday visit to the city, use our New York City Christmas itinerary for all the top attractions, places to eat, and things to see this magical time of year in the city!
Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Guide
Brief History of the Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
The over-the-top Dyker Heights holiday lights date back to the 1980s when Lucy Spata moved into the neighborhood and kept her mom’s tradition alive by going all-out on decorations. Some folks debate the exact origins, but most sources agree her house was the spark that kicked off the now-famous neighborhood spectacle.
Her home at 1152 84th Street (known as the Spata House) is still one of the must-see stops, complete with the glowing angels she puts up each year in her mother’s memory.
And while it’s been said that the neighbors weren’t exactly thrilled at first, it quickly snowballed into this unspoken, totally festive, holiday-movie-level decorating “competition” that now draws well over 100,000 visitors annually (honestly, it feels like even more these days).
As you wander around, you’ll spot everything from professionally installed light displays, some rumored to cost around $20k. You’ll even notice advertising signs for decorators.
There are also QR codes and donation boxes supporting different charities. All this magic… because one woman decided to keep her family tradition alive.
When to See Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights are on display starting the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
The lights are visible every day of the week, starting at around dusk when the neighborhood turns on lights until around 10 pm.
If you come after NYE, you may still see a few homes that still have their displays up! However, the best window to see them all is Thanksgiving through NYE.
Some of the homes don’t always have their lights on display right away, so if you want to see every single home that might be decorated for the season, the best time to go to see the most homes is after the first week of December, up until Christmas.
Mid-December through New Year is the busiest time to enjoy the Dyker Heights Christmas lights, so if you’re okay only seeing some of the Dyker Heights lights, it can be a more enjoyable experience if you come earlier in the season.
This is also a great time if you’re hoping to get one of the most coveted New York City Christmas photo spots without people in them.
And one of the best traditions, if you’re looking for things to do on Christmas Day in NYC is to come on the 25th to see the lights!
Important Note about Crowds
Tour buses and groups fill the streets around the most famous homes starting right after dusk through most of the night.
I used to say if you came right at dusk, you’d get a much less crowded experience, but the recent years it seems like everyone’s caught on.
If you come right before dusk, you’ll get maybe one or two blocks of light peeping without large organized groups.
If you come the week leading up to Christmas, expect crowds as thick as Midtown around the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
How to Get to the Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
Many people wonder what the best way to get to the Dyker Heights lights is, as it’s a bit further than the most popular things to do in NYC at Christmas. I am going to break that down – but long story short, the subway is the quickest option to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights.
Plan on it taking at least 60 minutes + to commute from Manhattan to Dyker Heights, depending on the route you take and less from other spots in Brooklyn, depending on your starting location.
Getting to Dyker Heights via the Subway
There are two main subway stops we recommend taking to get to the Dyker Heights holiday lights:
- 86th Street Station (R train)
- 79 Street Station (D train)
Both of these options will require a 10-15 minute walk to get to the main area (more on that in a moment).
If you’re not already on the R or D subway lines, you can get to Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn and transfer there, that’s a great way to get here! The D train is also express, so it can be a bit quicker than the R, which makes more stops as a local train.
Not sure how to ride the subway? Check out our easy-to-follow guide for how to use the subway in NYC.
Getting to Dyker Heights Christmas Lights by Taxi/Rideshare
This is a great option for getting to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights if you aren’t comfortable navigating the subway and don’t mind paying for convenience.
Depending on your starting point and time of day, taking a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft or a taxi can vary from 40-60 minutes from different locations in Manhattan and anywhere from 20-40 minutes from various points in Brooklyn. This is assuming you’re not attempting to get a ride at rush hour, which changes everything.
Also, keep in mind traffic patterns can change in a moment’s notice, so if there’s a specific time you’re trying to get to Dyker Heights by, give yourself a little extra time.
While you can take a taxi to Dyker Heights, you likely won’t find yellow cabs to leave. You can call a rideshare easily, though.
Since the streets with the Christmas lights are going to be packed, it’s easiest to walk a few blocks away from the crowded streets so your driver can reach you and you can escape easily.
Driving to Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
Another option for getting to the Dyker Heights holiday lights is driving if you have your own car. If you’re not used to driving in the city, expect traffic and delays on your way to and once you’re at the lights.
The huge downside to driving your own car is that it’s very difficult to find parking and almost impossible to drive up and down the streets where all the Dyker Heights Christmas lights are as people are in the streets oohing and ahhing at the lights. It’s super congested and can be a very frustrating experience.
Unless completely necessary, we wouldn’t advise taking your own car just because the parking is hard to find and it could dampen your experience.
Some people prefer to see the lights from their car, if you do this, plan to be sitting bumper to bumper at the most popular spots, especially between 11th & 12th Avenues. You will want to do this part on foot if you can.
We have never done this way as we live in the city without a car, however, one helpful commenter noted that the best chances of parking is between 79th – 86th streets.
Where are the BEST HOMES and Heart of the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights?
The best streets for viewing the Dyker Heights lights and creating your own DIY Dyker Heights lights tour is on 83rd Street and 84th Street between 10th and 12th Avenues. These are where you can find the main homes, however, there are plenty of other streets nearby where you can find more Dyker Heights holiday light displays that we will cover next.
Between 83rd Street and 84th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues, you can find four of the most popular Dyker Heights Christmas light displays including the original, the Lucy Spata House at 1152 84th Street.
Next, there’s the Polizzotto Home at 1145 84th Street (former home of the famous giant 15 ft Santa Claus and large display of moving animatronic decorations) This home is now decorated differently as the house passed ownership recently.
Another notable stop on your DIY Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is the Forest of Lights at 1134 83rd Street. This fun stop is literally what it sounds like, a forest of lights! This home on the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights trail has a good amount of trees and they decorate them from the ground to the top with colorful lights making them a forest of lights!
Another one of our favorite homes is 1023 83rd Street, this home belongs to the family of. Frank Mangano and they have a magical, over the top display that is one of our top picks and must-see sights at the Dyker Heights holiday light display! They also have an Instagram account you can follow for behind the scenes @1023XMAS.
The Let It Snow House at 8401 10th Avenue has become a favorite the last few years, not only is the entire side of the house dripped with colorful lights but on the corner of 10th Avenue they have SNOW all the time! They have a creative snow machine that brings the magic of a White Christmas every night to Dyker Heights!
Another over the top home is 1270 84th Street, they go above and beyond with their themes for their holiday display, from gold fish, Super Mario, pandas, and more with this over the top LED and light display!
Pay attention to other details at the house, if you’ve got a keen eye you might even spot a Santa surprise in the window! This is also one of the many homes that has a charity you can donate extra change to if you’re in the Christmas spirit and are able to help a great cause.
Most Popular Dyker Heights Lights:
- Lucy Spata House (1152 84th Street) – The original house to start the Dyker Heights lights tradition
- Polizzotto Home (1145 84th Street) – The original owners have sold and moved on, the new owner now decorates though too! Still an impressive home
- Forest of Lights (1134 83rd Street) – Trees decked out with lights making an actual forest of lights!
- Frank Mangano House (1023 83rd Street) – Decked out home with Believe and Joy signs and tons of lights!
- Let It Snow House (8401 10th Avenue) – Where you’ll find snow all holiday season and really fun decor!
- Wild Holiday House (1270 84th Street) – this is not the official name but WOW, you’ll see why I called it that! There’s no other quite like it.
More notable spots for lights and our personal favorites include:
- House on the corner of 10th Ave & 84th Street, peek up on the side of the house for a Santa surprise in the window!
So now that you have the most popular Dyker Heights lights locations, you can see on a map quickly they are all right next to eachother. Don’t stop now though, there are so many more lights to look at if you’re up for it!
There are a few sections of Dyker Heights holiday lights to see. See the streets listed below:
- 84th Street between 7th Avenue & 13th Avenue (this is also where you will pass the Lucy Spata & Polizzotto Home)
- 83rd Street between 7th Avenue & 12th Avenue (this is where you will see the Forest of Lights)
- 82nd Street between 10th Avenue & 13th Avenue (generally no lights between 11th & 12th Avenues)
- 81st Street between 7th Avenue & 13th Avenue (generally no lights between 11th & 12th Avenues)
- 80th Street between 10th Avenue & 11th Avenue
- 79th Street between 11th Avenue & 12th Avenue
- 12th Avenue between 77th Street & 76th Street
Tips for Visiting Dyker Heights Holiday Lights
Here are some essential tips for enjoying your DIY Dyker Heights lights tour or just visiting the area in general for holiday viewing!
You will be walking a lot, especially if you’re coming from the subway (remember there’s around a 15-minute walk to the Dyker Heights lights from the nearest subway stops and a 15-minute walk back). So wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Don’t forget to layer up if it’s cold out, too! Once you’re on the trail of all the Dyker Heights holiday lights there is nowhere to warm up!
We love getting hand warmers for those, especially cold winter days!
The best time to see the Dyker Heights Christmas lights is after dusk, so in late November through early January that can be as early as 5:30 (and earlier closer to the holiday around winter solstice). You have a few hours to come and see all the Dyker Heights lights as the homes typically start turning off their lights before bed around 10:00 pm and sometimes as late as 11:00 pm.
The weekends are typically more crowded, and the closer to Christmas and New Year’s, the more crowded the Dyker Heights Christmas lights get.
Also, the earlier you go around Thanksgiving the less lights will be on display, some decorators don’t get them up that early so keep that in mind if you’re hoping to see everything.
Some of the homes have a money drop or box for various charities using the visitation to see the lights at their homes as a chance to give back. If you’re wanting to participate, don’t forget to bring some extra cash or change.
Food & Drink Near Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
If you want to walk around with a hot drink, Twist Coffee at 7824 13th Avenue closes either 7 or 8 PM (depending on the day) and has hot drinks! Or you can grab a thermos and bring your own hot cocoa or if you’re boozy like me, some mulled wine (if you’re not driving of course).
Near Twist Coffee is also the INCREDIBLE Italian Bakery, Tasty Pastry Shoppe at 8216 13th Avenue that sells gingerbread starter kids, holiday cookies, and classic Italian desserts! Stop in here for a sweet treat! This is one of our picks for best Brooklyn bakeries too! They stay open until 8 PM all days except Sundays when they close at 5 PM.
This one has a line often!
One commenter and local noted that Lioni’s Italian Heros is another great spot if you’re looking for a bite to eat from a local eatery! Just note they close around 7 PM and are more of a deli, take-out but they have insanely good sandwiches if you want to have dinner on the go.
And for a great sit-down restaurant and one of the best Christmas restaurants in NYC, make your way to Skinflint’s in Bay Ridge for a pre or post Dyker Heights Christmas lights meal! I love their decor and every visitor we had during the holiday season we brought here afterwards.
Skinflints is far enough away that you may want to take a rideshare here unless you’re up for a 20 minute walk!
Krispy Pizza is one of the best spots for pizza in the city and a great place for pre or post-lights meal!
There are also food trucks around the busy blocks of lights. I once bought a churro and it was the most stale churro I’ve ever eaten and it was overpriced. Take that personal anecdote as just one person’s experience, once. But you won’t catch me buying food or drink from those vendors.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Tours
If all of this information on how do your own DIY Dyker Heights Christmas lights tour is overwhelming and you prefer to have someone else show you around, then we recommend joining one of the Dyker Heights lights tours available!
Keep in mind, the weekend before Christmas and the days leading up to Christmas is PACKED and the tours are also packed. This is just a memo for those who don’t like crowds!
This 1.5-hour Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour starts at Mocha Mocha Coffee Shop just outside of the 86th Street Subway stop and requires you to get to Dyker Heights on your own. This Dyker Heights lights tour includes a knowledgeable guide who will take you to see the most impressive homes and the history behind this holiday tradition. Book your tickets here.
This 3.5-hour Dyker Heights Lights tour includes transportation from Manhattan and is the perfect addition to all the holiday sightseeing in the city! Your driver will pick you up from Midtown and drop you off with your guide in Dyker Heights where you will check out all the festivities. Before you finish, this Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour has a bonus stop at the Brooklyn Bridge so you can get a photo of the city skyline twinkling at night before ending your magical evening! Book your tickets here.
What’s even more fun is that the Dyker Heights Christmas lights also make an appearance in movies and television! Get inspired and check out these best Christmas movies set in NYC to get you in the holiday spirit before or after your visit!
You have got to love the holiday season in the city! If you’re looking for the perfect gifts for any NYC or Brooklyn lovers be sure to check out our guides to the best New York City ornaments for gifting, the best New York City souvenirs & gifts, and the best Brooklyn gifts!
Oh and if you do happen to be visiting earlier or later in the holiday season, be sure to check out all the best things to do during Thanksgiving in NYC and how to celebrate New Year’s in NYC!
What subway is closest to Dyker Heights Christmas lights?
The closest subway to Dyker Heights Christmas lights in Brooklyn is the D train to 71st Street Station or R train to 86th Street Station in Brooklyn and then walk around 15 minutes to the residential neighborhood to see the holiday light displays.
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights usually come on at dusk, around 5 or 6 PM, and stay illuminated until around 9 or 10 PM each evening during the holiday season. However, specific hours may vary among different displays which go up after Thanksgiving and stay up until New Year’s Day.
A typical walk through Dyker Heights Christmas lights can take 1 to 2 hours, but it depends on how much time you spend admiring the displays and the size of the area you choose to explore.
Yes, the Dyker Heights Christmas lights are free to visit, visitors have an option to donate to various causes at some of the homes that pick a charity of choice.
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights in Brooklyn are typically on display from late November to early January, with the most elaborate displays shining brightest in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The best way to see Dyker Heights Christmas Lights is by walking through the neighborhood, particularly in the early evening when the lights are on. Many guided tours are available for a comprehensive experience that includes transportation from Midtown.
To get to Dyker Heights Christmas lights, take the D train to 71st Street or R train to 86th Street in Brooklyn. From there, it’s a short walk to the residential neighborhood. Alternatively, you can use a car or a guided tour for convenience.
From Manhattan, take the subway (D train to 71st Street or R train to 86th Street) in Brooklyn. Then walk around 15 minutes to Dyker Heights, or consider a car service or guided tour for a convenient trip to enjoy the Christmas lights that includes transportation.
Yes, you can drive to Dyker Heights Christmas Lights. The neighborhood is accessible by car, and many visitors choose to drive to view the holiday displays, making it very congested with vehicles and foot traffic.
There is on-street parking available around Dyker Heights, but it can be limited and competitive during the holiday season due to the high number of visitors. Plan to arrive early to secure parking on nearby streets.
Some of the best houses for Christmas lights in Dyker Heights are along 84th Street, from 10th to 12th Avenues. These blocks often have the most extravagant and well-known displays.
Found this easy to follow guide to the Dyker Heights Christmas lights helpful? Bookmark for later or share the love below on Pinterest!
this was great info but I am traveling from CT and would like to drive down instead of public transportation due to COVID to get to Brooklyn. I am afraid of the parking. IS there anywhere to park for a period of time? A restaurant we could dine at and park for the duration. Parking on the street? thanks
Parking is easier this year as there are less visitors. We recommend going on a week night if you can. There are many restaurants in the neighborhood, there are multiple dining options in Dyker Heights on Fort Hamilton Parkway and 13th Ave as well as tons of options in Bay Ridge next to Dyker Heights.
This is so helpful – thank you so much! Apologies if this is a silly question or not but we’re planning to drive – do you think Christmas eve (12/24)/tomorrow night will be busy? If so, do you think Monday wont be as bad or worse as its between Christmas & New Years? Thank you so much!
It’s hard to say as this year has been less crowded in our experience, but I imagine that today would be more crowded. Now that it is the holiday break, I would imagine that it will be busier than it was earlier in December. If you’re flexible, try a weekday between Christmas and NYE earlier in the evening around dusk!
FIRST OFF THE PEOPLE IN DYKER WERE PUTTING UP XMAS LIGHTS LONG BEFORE THE SPATAS MOVED THERE. SECONDLY THERES NO MENTION THAT THE HOUSES ON 84 th STREET BETWEEN 11 th n 12 th Aves ARE THE WORST BLOCK TO GO DOWN IF UR DRIVING. BE PREPARED TO BE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ALL AROUND THE AREA. HERES A GREAT TIP TO USE. DRIVE TO 15 th or 14 th AVES AROUND 79 th to 86 th STREETS N PARK THERE. THAT WAY U CAN WALK DOWN TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AND HAVE A PLACE TO LEAVE UR CAR SAFELY. IF U GET TO THE AREA BEFORE 5 pm GO VISIT THE LIONIS ITALIAN STORE FOR GREAT ITALIAN FOOD. OR NEXT DOOR TO THE ROMEO MEAT MARKET FOR GREAT MEATS A MUST BUY FOR ALL IS THE MOZZARELLA FROM LIONIS. NOTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
Thanks for the additional tips you think will be helpful to our readers.
I’m interested in visiting Dyker Heights this upcoming 2021 holiday season around Dec. 20th or Dec. 21st
We are coming from NJ and debating if we should take subway from Manhattan, take an UBER from Manhattan or drive from NJ?
The area you suggested to park back in Jan of 2021, would you recommend that this year as well? I am not familiar with this part of Brooklyn and figured it would be hard to park. Unlike Manhattan there aren’t parking garages in residential areas of Brooklyn.
“HERES A GREAT TIP TO USE. DRIVE TO 15th or 14th AVES AROUND 79th to 86th STREETS N PARK THERE. THAT WAY U CAN WALK DOWN TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AND HAVE A PLACE TO LEAVE UR CAR SAFELY. “
We anticipate it will be back to its busy visitation this season (especially as it gets closer to the holidays it gets more crowded) so a car might be difficult, I would best recommend coming by subway and walking the last bit, but that’s just my personal preference. Also, if you do take an Uber you will probably want to walk a few blocks out to get a car on the way home – it can be gridlock down the main streets that have alot of displays. Hope that helps!
Could you please let me know when this ends ? Is it open in January 1st week ?
That’s answered above in the section “When to see Dyker Heights Christmas Lights” – I am sure a few homes still have lights up but typically people stop visiting after NYE and holiday decorations come down.
82nd street between 11 th and 12th ave has 2 houses in particular with cool displays. On is the old Santa on the front lawn and the neighbor has a Grinch setup. Kids love it.
Excellent reading the only problem for me is, I live on Long Island and would prefer tour transportation without going into Manhattan. Would love to see the displays.
We are visiting this winter and I noticed some car services offer a private tour. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Would you recommend it?
Hi Robin, my friend runs this company, she focuses on private photo tours but she may do Dyker Heights tours too. I’d reach out! https://nycphotojourneys.com/
These crowds need to be controlled and a stop time needs to be inforced at night noises and crowds sometimes till 1-2 AM and also trucks selling foods outside this is not Times Square !