Brooklyn has become famous for Christmas lights and decorations. The neighborhood where this is located is called Dyker Heights. It’s fairly straightforward to visit and view the bright displays. Be sure to take lots of photos! This page provides all the info you will need to visit Dyker Heights and experience the lights. It includes visiting info, a map and a self-guided tour. This page is updated for 2026.
About The Christmas Lights at Dyker Heights
Dyker Heights is a quiet residential neighborhood deep in Brooklyn. Over the last several decades, a tradition has grown wherein local residents decorate their homes with attractive Christmas light displays. This phenomenon has become increasingly more famous, and now thousands of people flock to Dyker Heights each December.
This light display is unofficial – it’s not organized by any council or government agency. Since it is simply a collection of individual homeowners each setting up their own display, there are no official rules. Rather, there are unofficial procedures that are widely accepted voluntarily by local residents. Some Christmas light displays are set up personally by the homeowner, while other displays are set up by professional companies (primarily by a company called B & R).
The origin of this Brooklyn neighborhood tradition is murky – however a person named Lucy Spata is most widely credited with being the founder (there is also a possible competing claim by a neighboring family named Polizzotto). Lucy Spata’s home is the epicenter of the Christmas lights display in Dyker Heights.
Location & Directions
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights district is located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is decently accessible by the city’s subway – a ride of approx. 45-65 minutes from Manhattan.
Subway directions: R subway line to ’86th Street’ station in Brooklyn.
We suggest taking the 2, 3, 4, 5, N or Q line to ‘Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center’ station in Brooklyn, and then transferring to the R line towards Bay Ridge. Then get out at ’86th Street’ station.
From the subway station, walk south on 86th Street for approximately 2/3 kilometer to reach the Christmas lights district. For more detailed directions, please follow the instructions which are provided below in the self-guided tour.
Please note that there is NO subway station located WITHIN the lights district – you must ride to a nearby station and WALK to reach the lights.
Taxi or Uber: this will probably take approximately 40-60 minutes or longer, and it will cost approximately $35-70 USD.
You can instruct your taxi/Uber to bring you to the following address in Brooklyn:
705 86th Street
Brooklyn NY 11228
From this address, you will walk to the lights district. The distance is approximately 5 minutes.
Returning back to Manhattan: It will probably be difficult to obtain a yellow taxi when you are departing from Dyker Heights. Therefore your best option is to take an Uber or the subway.
If you strongly need a taxi and you can’t use Uber, you can also use the following option: call Harbor View Car Service at +1 718 680 2500. It will be best for you to instruct the dispatcher to pick you up at the following address: 705 86th Street, Brooklyn NY 11228. Then you should wait at this address until the car arrives. It will probably take approximately 5-15 minutes for the car to arrive. The car will not be yellow – the color will probably be black. Simply ask the driver if they are from Harbor View car service. Then you should pay them in cash when they drop you off at your destination.
Please be aware that the Dyker Heights Christmas lights district does not have any indoor facility – it is all displayed outdoors on public streets. There is no building where you can request information or use restrooms. Restrooms are very difficult to find in Dyker Heights. Definitely use restrooms BEFORE traveling to Dyker Heights.
Best Time To Go
Beginning date: The first Christmas lights usually begin the day after the U.S. ‘Thanksgiving’ holiday. This year (2026) the date which the lights begin is November 27. However some lights will not be turned on until around December 1. By December 1 everything is pretty much turned on.
So you can come by November 27 if necessary. But it is ideal to come on December 1 or later.
Ending date: the lights mostly shut down by around December 31.
It is possible to visit Dyker Heights on any day of the week. However on weekends it will be more busy, with very large crowds of people attending. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the businest days. On a weekday there will be less people.
Early in the month of December it will be less busy, and it will get more busy approaching Christmas (December 25).
Times/Hours: Each day, the lights are generally turned on around nightfall (approximately 5:00PM / 17:00). They usually remain lit until late evening (at least 10:00PM / 22:00). Immediately after nightfall the crowds will be smaller, and then as the night proceeds the crowds will get bigger.
Top Dyker Heights Light Locations
Here are the best spots in Dyker Heights, where the top Christmas lights are displayed:
Lucy Spata Home
This house is the #1 Christmas site in Brooklyn. Lucy Spata is the purported founder of the Dyker Heights holiday tradition, and her home is the most densely decorated. It’s a modest-size house which is jammed with hundreds of lights and decorations. You can’t miss it! It is said that Lucy Spata adds new features every single year. Apparently there is a joke that Lucy wrote in her will testament, that her children will only inherit her home if they continue to maintain the light display. Be sure to wait your turn at taking a selfie in front of this house!
The Lucy Spata home is point #1 on the above map.
Address: 1152 84th St, Brooklyn NY 11228
Let it Snow Home
This corner property has become one of the top attractions in Dyker Heights over the last few years. The owner does all the decorating himself. He adds new decorations every year. On the balcony at the front of the house is a machine which shoots artificial snow into the air! The machine is not always operating.
The Let it Snow home is point #2 on the above map.
Address: 8401 10th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11228
Frank Mangano Home
In recent years Frank began majorly upgrading his Christmas display. It takes him and his family about 5 weeks to set it all up! He adds new decorations every year. Please follow them on Instagram.
The Frank Mangano home is point #3 on the above map.
Address: 1023 83rd St, Brooklyn NY 11228
Forest of Lights
This large property has many trees which are all covered in green and yellow Christmas lights. The effect is like a magical winter forest! This home is an extremely popular destination for sightseers. Sometimes there will be costumed characters whom children can take photographs with. Often there will be a man in front, collecting donations for Michael’s Cause (childrens disease research). Be sure to consider giving a donation as your thanks for this wonderful display being provided! Also look closely across the street – the windows of one of the houses are actually a television screen showing Santa delivering gifts!
The Forest of Lights is point #4 on the above map.
Address: 1134 83rd St, Brooklyn NY 11228
Insider Map + Self Guided Tour
A) If you are arriving by subway: begin outside of subway station. Feel free to grab a coffee from Gigi’s coffee shop or a snack from the nearby restaurants. Then walk south on 86th Street for approximately 2/3 kilometer (approximately 6 blocks) until 10th Avenue.
B) If you are arriving by taxi/Uber: begin outside of bagel shop at 705 86th Street. Feel free to grab a snack from the nearby restaurants. Then walk south on 86th Street for 1.5 blocks, until 10th Avenue.
C) Turn left onto 10th Avenue and walk 1 block. Then turn right onto 85th Street and walk 2 blocks. There will be various decorated homes to see along the way.
D) Turn left onto 12th Avenue and walk 1 block. Then turn left onto 84th Street. There will be more nice lights to see as you walk.
E) You have have reached the Lucy Spata Home. This is the center of the Christmas lights district. It’s the busiest block in Dyker Heights. Please enjoy the displays and take many photos!
Then continue along 84th Street for 2 blocks.
F) You have reached the Let it Snow home. This is another one of the top most popular houses. Look out for the snow machine, which shoots artificial snow into the air! The machine is not always turned on.
Afterwards, turn right onto 10th Avenue and walk 1 block. Then turn right onto 83rd Street.
G) You have reached the Frank Mangano home. You can a take a nice photo on the steps in front of the house.
Afterwards, continue on 83th Street for 1.5 blocks.
H) You have reached the Forest of Lights. Please enjoy the displays and take many photos! There might even be characters in costume. Also look out for a window across the street which is actually a television screen showing the view inside Santa’s workshop!
You have completed this self-guided tour, and you have seen the best Christmas lights in Brooklyn. Now you can walk around and browse more lights, or you can return back to the subway, or you can get something to eat nearby. Enjoy!
Here is a Google Maps version of the Dyker Heights route. It shows the self-guided tour route and top decorated homes:
The following map shows the all the major Christmas light locations in the area. It does not show the self-guided tour route.
Black markings show locations of Christmas lights.
Can you drive to Dyker Heights?
Here is info about driving to Dyker Heights in your own car.
It’s possible to drive to Dyker Heights and view the Christmas lights from your car.
If you go on a quiet weeknight early in December, it should be easy to drive through and see everything. And you can probably park your car on the street for free if you want to get out and walk.
However if you go on a busy night (weekends or any day in late in December), there could be a lot of traffic. You will pass through the district very slowly. There could be traffic jams. You may not be able to stop in front of the best houses, because police will force you to move. And parking will probably be difficult.
Parking in Dyker Heights: on a weeknight early in December you can probably find a free parking space on the street. On a weekend – or later in December – it could be difficult to find a parking space.
There is a public parking garage which is a short distance from the Christmas lights district. From this parking garage it will take approximately 10 minutes to walk to the lights. It will cost a few dollars to use this parking facility. Here is the address:
8501 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11209
Food and Drinks at Dyker Heights
The Dyker Heights lights district is a residential area. The decorated streets themselves do not contain any shops. Update for 2026: There are usually some trucks selling snacks and hot chocolate. These are the only places to obtain food within the Christmas lights zone.
The main places where there are shops and restaurants are a walk of approximately 5-10 minutes from the Christmas district. They are mostly located around 86th Street between 4th Avenue and 7th Avenue (at the beginning of the route displayed above). There are also places to eat around the intersection of 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue, which is located to the south of the Dyker Heights lights district.
Here are a few noteworthy restaurants and businesses:
Gigi’s Bakery
A local family-owned bakery with coffee, pastries, + cakes
This is point #5 on the below map.
Address: 8626 4th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209
Tasty Pastry Shoppe
Modern bakery selling Italian & American treats, including cannoli, cookies & customized cakes. A lovely old-fashioned local business. Perfect place to stop for a hot beverage or snack. Located very close to the Christmas lights district. Usually closes at 9:00pm.
This is point #6 on the below map.
Address: 8216-18 13th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11228
BurgerFi
Stylish, eco-minded chain serving grass-fed beef burgers, plus hot dogs, craft beer & wine.
This is point #7 on the below map.
Address: 719 86th Street, Brooklyn NY 11228
Blossom Diner (formerly called ‘Stewarts‘)
Old-fashioned American restaurant with lunch counter. Serving hamburgers, French fries, milkshakes, etc
This is point #8 on the below map.
Address: 8518 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209
Pizza Wagon
A typical New York neighborhood Italian-American pizzeria selling slices and pies.
This is point #9 on the below map.
Address: 8610 5th Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11209
86th Street Shopping District
Along 86th Street near the subway is a busy shopping zone which has numerous places to eat. This includes: McDonalds, Chipotle, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Popeye’s and more.
This is point #10 on the below map.
Address: 86th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues
Here is a map which shows the self-guided tour route, and also shows the food locations:
Tours of Dyker Heights
Public Walking Tour
We offer a public walking tour on most days in December. It begins at 5:00pm or 7:30pm and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. The cost is $25 USD per person.
See more info about our public walking tour
Private Walking, Vehicle and Bus Tours
We offer private walking, vehicle and bus tours. For 1-4 people the cost is $190 USD for a walking tour. To add a sedan vehicle, it costs an additional $150-300 depending on details. The prices go up with more people and larger vehicles. We also offer step-on tours with your bus.
Please contact us to arrange a private tour
Public Bus Tour
A Slice of Brooklyn Tours provides a public guided bus tour of the Christmas lights. On most days there are several departure times to choose from between 5:00pm – 8:00pm. The length is approximately 3.5 hours. The cost is $65 USD for adults and $55 for children.
Driving to Dyker Heights With Your Own Bus/Coach
Are you a tour operator or group leader? If you are bringing a motor coach bus to see the Brooklyn Christmas lights, this following information will be important for you.
The NYPD 68th Precinct has made strict rules and procedures which must be followed when arriving by bus. The procedure is simple: you arrive at the designated bus boarding zone to drop off your group, you send your bus to wait in the designated bus waiting area, and then you have your bus pick you up back at the boarding zone. No bus sightseeing is allowed, and no other dropping off is allowed. All sightseeing must be done on foot/walking. Here are more details of the procedures:
1) When you arrive at Dyker Heights, you should drive directly to the bus boarding zone. This is located on 86th Street between 12th Avenue and 13th Avenue. Be sure that you are driving southbound on 86th Street – this is the only approach which is allowed. There may be a que of other buses waiting – if you see this, then you are definitely in the correct place. Buses and large vehicles will be lined up waiting to enter the “Chute” (this is how the police refer to the bus boarding zone). The Chute is a lane which is barricaded off, so that there is simply an entrance and exit. Have all passengers prepare for disembarking. When it is your turn to enter the Chute, pull all the way forward as far as you can go, then have the passengers swiftly disembark. Then you should lead your group rapidly out of the boarding zone, and walk to the lights. You can use the map provided above.
2) Your driver should then exit forward out of the Chute. He or she should make the next right turn and circle around the golf course until they reach 7th Avenue. Then they should wait on 7th Avenue until it’s time to depart.
3) When you have finished sightseeing on foot, it will be time to depart. Please be sure that you have your entire group assembled, and that nobody is straggling or missing. Walk back to the bus boarding zone. Call your driver and inform them to return to meet you. They should leave their waiting spot on 7th Avenue, and make a right turn onto 86th Street. Then drive 2 long blocks back to the Chute. When your bus arrives, have your group rapidly board. Once everyone is aboard, it’s time to depart. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the Christmas lights!
Here is a convenient map showing these procedures:
