DYKER HEIGHTS — The Dyker Heights Lights are, once again, bringing joy to the world.

On Christmas Eve, a picturesque snow helped to set the holiday mood, as thousands of visitors poured into Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights neighborhood by car, by subway and on bus tours. 

A decades-old tradition, the residents of Dyker Heights go all-out every yuletide. More than a hundred homes are decorated with tens of thousands of lights — along with waving Santa Clauses, electric reindeer, candy canes, nutcrackers and numerous Nativity scenes.

Hot chocolate and hot cider stands provide warming beverages. A few of Brooklyn’s ubiquitous, fume-spewing commercial vending trucks are parked on busy corners, despite efforts by local residents and officials to ban them, as the Brooklyn Eagle reported in 2019. But fewer than in years past, reportedly.

The annual event is undertaken at the personal expense and effort of homeowners, who spend days setting up their lighting and decorations, which they reuse and add to year after year.

Some of the more spectacular displays were created by professional lighting decorators like B&R Christmas Decorations, a big name in Dyker Heights. Some of these extravaganzas require several days to set up using a crew of about five, B&R’s leader James Bonavita told Business Insider in 2021.

But it’s not just about the eye-poppers. Part of the wonder derives from the cumulative effect of home after home decked out in glorious radiance. The community effort is much appreciated by visitors, who take selfies and family portraits in front of the displays.

Despite the crowds, the locals remain generous of spirit.

The Eagle asked George, a homeowner on 82nd Street near 11th Avenue, how long it took him to cover his house, trees and balcony with thousands of lights.

“About 12 hours,” he said. “It’s easier with the new net lights. See how they all line up?”

George wished the Eagle a blessed Christmas, adding, “Can I get you some water or anything?”

If you go:

People walking through the Dyker Heights neighborhood on Christmas Eve did much better than those stuck in traffic jams, so if you must drive, plan to come on a weekday night. Otherwise, take the R train to 86th Street and walk towards 11th Avenue, where you will see lights stretching out between 11th and 13th avenues and from 83rd to 86th streets. (You can also take the D Train to 79th Street and New Utrecht Avenue.) You will have to walk about 15 minutes from either station. The best time to see the display is between dusk and 9 p.m., at least until New Year’s Eve.

You can easily see everything on your own, but if you prefer a tour, there are several listed in TimeOut.