All photos via Jennimaria Palomaki for Viewing NYC
The Christmas lights in Dyker Heights, a small neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn between Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, are an annual holiday tradition dating back to at least the mid-1980s. Homes in the mostly residential neighborhood are decorated with everything from yard inflatables, giant nutcrackers, and of course, lots and lots of lights.
The Christmas lights are mostly concentrated between 11th and 13th Avenue and 83rd and 86th Street. However, the crescendo of the pageantry is on 84th Street between 11th and 12th Avenue where the home of Lucy Spata, often credited with starting the tradition, sits across the street from the Polizzoto residence, famous for its 14 foot tall, 800 pound animatronic Santa Claus.
Many of the light displays are professionally installed and cost upwards of $10,000. The yearly event draws large enough crowds to support dedicated food carts and bus tours. Dyker Heights can be easily reached by the R train. After getting off at 86th Street, you’ll need to walk only about 10-15 minutes to reach the lights.
Jennimaria Palomaki
Contributing Writer
Jennimaria is a linguist and writer living in Brooklyn with her husband and dog. She enjoys eating, cooking, and drinking. She is constantly in search of authentic Roman food and the perfect mojito.
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