MerryHoHo
Dyker Lights 02
Photo: Amaury Laporte · CC BY 2.0

Neighborhood · Brooklyn · Free

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights 2026

The most famous house lights in the country: whole blocks of Brooklyn homes buried in lights, giant toy soldiers, nutcrackers, inflatable Santas and music, each block with its own themes. It's free and best on foot, drifting from house to house with the crowd.

2026 dates not announced yet — last season below, marked by year

Google 4.7 ★ · 3,181 reviews

At a glance

When
Most houses are lit from early December to Dec 31; some go up after Thanksgiving and most come down by New Year's Day (2025 pattern)
Hours
From dusk, around 4:30–5 pm; busiest 5–9 pm on December weekends
Cost
Free — it's a residential neighborhood
Time needed
1–2 hours to walk the main blocks
Where
83rd to 86th Street between 11th and 13th Avenue, Brooklyn
Getting there
D to 79 St or R to 86 St, then a 10–15 minute walk

Is it worth it?

An absolute must in December, and free. Take the subway, go on a weeknight, and walk the blocks between 11th and 13th Avenue.

What visitors say

Visitors say it feels like walking into a holiday movie — over-the-top, generous and full of neighbourhood pride, and every block different. Several say you don't need a paid tour: one drove in from Long Island and parked a block away. Those who took a bus tour praised the guides.

  • Free
  • Houses between 11th–13th Ave and 83rd–86th St
  • Giant figures and music
  • Bus tours from Midtown if you'd rather not take the subway

Getting there and getting in

  • Take the R to 86th Street or the D to 79th Street, then walk 10–15 minutes.
  • Parking is scarce and traffic heavy on peak nights — the subway is the better plan.
  • Stay on the sidewalk, don't block driveways, keep the noise down and take your trash with you: people live here.

Worth knowing

  • Weekend evenings from 5 to 9 pm in mid-December are the busiest. Weeknights are far calmer.
  • Bus tours from Midtown exist if you'd rather not do the subway at night.

Open in Google Maps

Questions people ask

When are the Dyker Heights Christmas lights on in 2026?
The houses don't publish a date. In recent years most displays were up by the first week of December and lit from dusk every night until around New Year's Day, with a few going up right after Thanksgiving. For the full effect go between mid-December and Christmas.
Is Dyker Heights Christmas lights free?
Yes. These are private homes on public streets, and there is no ticket. You only pay if you choose a guided bus tour from Manhattan.
Can you drive through Dyker Heights to see the lights?
You can, but on December weekends the streets are jammed and parking is close to impossible. The lights are best on foot — take the subway and walk the blocks between 11th and 13th Avenue.
Is a Dyker Heights tour worth it?
Only if you don't want to do the subway at night. A Slice of Brooklyn's 3½-hour bus tour from Manhattan cost $65 for adults and $55 for children in its last published season (priority seats $75/$65). The lights themselves are free and easy to walk on your own.
What's the best time to go?
A weeknight, right after dark. Saturday and Sunday evenings from 5 to 9 pm in mid-December are the most crowded.
Is it worth going?
Yes — it is the most famous house display in the country, it's free, and every block is different. Be a good guest: stay on the sidewalk, don't block driveways and take your trash with you.

Checked 2026-09-29. Sources: Time Out New York — Dyker Heights guide (2025) · Brooklyn Paper (2025) · A Slice of Brooklyn — tour prices. Last season's numbers are labelled with their year until the organiser publishes 2026.

More Christmas lights in New York City

All 6 displays in New York City

Famous Christmas lights elsewhere