Holiday guide · Checked October 26, 2026

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2026

The big displays are on the blocks between 83rd and 86th Streets, from 11th to 13th Avenue, in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. They’re private homes, so there’s no organiser and no official schedule: most houses light up after Thanksgiving and are fullest from mid-December to New Year’s, roughly dusk to 9pm. Walking around is free; take the R to 86 St or the D to 79 St.

Where83rd–86th StsBetween 11th and 13th Aves

WhenLate Nov – early JanFullest mid-Dec to New Year

HoursDusk to about 9pmNo official hours

CostFreeBus tours $55–65

A Dyker Heights house covered in lights, inflatable Santas and nutcrackers

The blocks to walk

Amber is the core display area (Time Out, amNY). Free Tours by Foot names 83rd and 84th Streets the best blocks, from 10th Ave. A loop of all four streets is about a mile.

Main displaysStationLights

Streets geocoded corner to corner. Displays change every year; some famous houses have scaled back.

When to go

Lights go up: Most homes decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving and light up late November or early December; most are on by mid-December.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet
Lights come down: Usually by the end of the first week of January. Lucy Spata told Brooklyn Paper her display runs “from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2”.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet
Nightly: No official hours. Lights come on at dusk (about 4:30–5pm); most go off between 9 and 10pm.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet
Busiest: Mid-December weekends, about 5–9pm. Weeknights are quieter.2025 detail · 2026 not out yet
Crowds: A tour operator estimated 400,000+ visitors a season (Wall Street Journal, 2023).

Getting there

SubwayR to 86 St or D to 79 StThen a 10–20 minute walk. About 45–55 minutes from Times Square in all.

DrivingParking is hardLimited street parking and heavy traffic at peak hours; if you drive, look between 79th and 86th Sts.

Bus tourA Slice of BrooklynNightly in December except Dec 24–25, from Union Square at 6pm, about 3.5 hours. $65 adults, $55 under 12 (no year shown on the page).

Bus tourTour AmericaAbout 3.5 hours, $60 adults, $50 children, Dec 1 – Jan 1 at 5 and 6pm; also in Spanish (2025, via Free Tours by Foot).

The house rules

Community Board 10 asks visitors to remember it’s a residential neighbourhood.

DoStay on the sidewalkDon’t step onto lawns or porches for a photo, and don’t block driveways.
DoBring small billsMany displays collect for charity.
Don’tDon’t ring doorbellsNot for photos, not for bathrooms — there are almost no public restrooms nearby.
DoGo on a weeknightSame lights, a fraction of the weekend crowd.
Heads upTake your trash with youThere are few bins on residential blocks.
Heads upBefore 9pmMost houses switch off between 9 and 10pm.

Past seasons

A Dyker Heights house and trees wrapped in lights

Trees lit purple and blue in a Dyker Heights front yard

Questions people ask

Where exactly are the Dyker Heights Christmas lights?＋

The biggest displays are between 83rd and 86th Streets from 11th to 13th Avenues in Brooklyn, with 83rd and 84th Streets often named the best blocks. Lucy Spata’s well-known house is on 84th Street.

When do the Dyker Heights lights turn on?＋

Most homes decorate after Thanksgiving and light up in late November or early December; displays usually stay up into the first week of January. Mid-December through New Year’s Eve is the fullest time.

What time are the Dyker Heights lights on?＋

There are no official hours. Lights come on around dusk (about 4:30–5pm) and most go off between 9 and 10pm.

How do I get to Dyker Heights by subway?＋

Take the R to 86 St or the D to 79 St, then walk about 10–20 minutes to the main blocks.

Is it free to see the Dyker Heights lights?＋

Yes, walking the streets is free. Paid bus tours also run, such as A Slice of Brooklyn ($65 adults, $55 under 12, from Union Square).

When is the least crowded time to go?＋

Weeknights. The busiest times are mid-December weekends from about 5 to 9pm.

Should I drive to Dyker Heights?＋

Parking is limited and traffic is heavy at peak times, so the subway is easier.

More this season

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Rockefeller tree lighting New Year’s Eve in NYC December in NYC Every holiday market and light show →

Checked October 26, 2026 against the organisers’ and the city’s own pages. Where this season’s detail isn’t published yet, we show last year’s and say so. Sources: