When the lights are up
The displays usually start the day after Thanksgiving, which is November 27 in 2026. Some houses don't switch on until around December 1, so December 1 or later is the safer bet. Most lights shut down by about December 31.
The lights generally come on around nightfall, roughly 5 PM, and stay lit until at least 10 PM. This is an unofficial tradition run by individual homeowners, not an organized event, so there is no ticket and no fixed schedule.
Which blocks to walk
You don't need to cover the whole neighborhood. The decorated houses cluster between 83rd and 86th Streets, and between 11th and 13th Avenues. Thirteenth Avenue is locally called Dyker Heights Boulevard.
Decorations change from year to year, but these houses have long been the anchors:
- Lucy Spata's house, 1152 84th Street, where the tradition is widely said to have started in 1986.
- The Polizzotto house, 1145 84th Street, directly across the street.
- Forest of Lights, 1134 83rd Street, which typically collects donations for Duchenne muscular dystrophy research.
- The Believe/Joy house, 1023 83rd Street.
Getting there by subway
There is no subway station inside the lights district, so plan to walk. The simplest route is the R train to 86th Street in Bay Ridge, then a walk east along 86th Street toward 11th Avenue. From Manhattan, expect a ride of about 45 to 65 minutes.
From the 2, 3, 4, 5, N or Q, you can change at Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center to an R train toward Bay Ridge. Another option is the D train to 79th Street and New Utrecht Avenue, followed by a hilly walk of about 15 minutes.
Getting home, yellow cabs are hard to find. Plan on a rideshare or the subway back.
Best time of night and best day
Go right after dark if you want room to move. Crowds are smallest just after nightfall and grow as the evening goes on.
Weekdays are quieter than Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and early December is calmer than the days approaching Christmas. If you can, pick a weekday evening in the first half of the month.
What to know before you go
Dyker Heights is a residential area with no visitor building and almost no public restrooms. Use one before you leave Manhattan.
Dress warmly, since you will be on your feet outdoors. The houses are private homes, so stay on the sidewalk.
Fitting it into a Christmas trip
Give Dyker Heights an evening of its own, since the subway ride alone is about 45 to 65 minutes each way from Manhattan. Leave Midtown in the afternoon so you arrive near dusk, walk the core blocks, and head back before the crowds peak.
It pairs well with a Manhattan-heavy trip because the Midtown sights are easier to cover earlier in the day. The Rockefeller Center tree is lit December 2, and Bryant Park Winter Village runs through February 28, 2027, with free skating if you bring or rent skates. For a Christmas Day itinerary, see our things to do on Christmas Day guide.
If you are building a full trip, our day-by-day plan covers Broadway, the windows and the tree. Swap one of its evenings for Brooklyn, and keep the Friday show night as is.
Frequently asked questions
When do the Dyker Heights Christmas lights go up in 2026?
Most start the day after Thanksgiving, November 27, and nearly everything is on by December 1. They mostly go dark around December 31.
What subway goes to Dyker Heights?
Take the R to 86th Street and walk about two-thirds of a kilometer. The D to 79th Street also works, with a hilly walk of about 15 minutes.
Is Dyker Heights free?
Yes. The displays are on public streets outside private homes, and you just walk the sidewalks.
What time should I go?
Just after dark, around 5 PM, when crowds are smallest. The lights usually stay on until at least 10 PM, but it gets busier as the night goes on.
Which streets have the best lights?
Look between 83rd and 86th Streets and 11th to 13th Avenues. Lucy Spata's house at 1152 84th Street is the best-known stop.
