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Photos: The Dyker Heights Holiday Lights Are Officially LIT For 2021
By
Ben Yakas
and
Sai Mokhtari
Published Dec 10, 2021
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By
Ben Yakas
and
Sai Mokhtari
Published Dec 10, 2021
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It isn't really the holiday season in New York City without a trip to Dyker Heights, where the locals always put on the craziest holiday lights display in the city. Don't take our word for it—it's literally the first thing you'll find if you try to search online.
"I typed in 'Christmas lights in NYC' and found Dyker Heights, this was the number one result," said Queens resident Samantha Rahman, who was wandering around the neighborhood this week. Her husband, Mahady Hoffan, told Gothamist it was his first time celebrating Christmas in the city, and it was already a "mind-blowing" experience thanks to this display.
Because of the pandemic, last year's display was an ever-so-slightly muted spectacle—one that nevertheless had enough twinkling lights to conjure up the image of a Lite Brite on a cocaine bender—but things were back to full wattage this year, with all the blinged-out reindeer, blown-up Santas, and oddly-lit nativity scenes one could hope for.
"We come every year, I think it's a tradition, we love coming here and seeing the lights and seeing everybody walking around," said Christina, who was walking around with her friend Michelle. "A lot of the nicer [displays] weren't here last year, so this year it's nice, it feels back to normal again."
A Dyker Heights house decked in holiday lights in 2021.
Amanda Vrau was FaceTiming with her boyfriend as she checked out each display. "This is my third time seeing the lights," she said, noting she didn't come last year. "After the pandemic, which was very depressing, I would say that this brought hope and merriness back inside me. Now I'm very happy again, and ready for Christmas."
Beth Van Pelt and Laurie Murphy both ventured out from New Jersey to see it for the first time, and said it was worth the trip: "I think it's great, it's beautiful, it's very well organized, there was parking, policemen, everything was great," Van Pelt said.
Check out photos of this year's scene from photographer Sai Mokhtari in the gallery up above. And if you want to go check it out for yourself in person, Dyker Heights is located between Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge, and the lights are mostly from 11th to 13th Avenues and from 83rd to 86th Street. If you're taking mass transit, you'll need to grab the D train and get off at 79th Street in Brooklyn, but note you'll have a 15-20 minute walk up and down some hills to and from (MAP).
Tagged
dyker heights lights
lights
dyker heights
christmas
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Sai Mokhtari
Sai Mokhtari has photographed all things NYC for Gothamist since 2012 and is best known for her Subway Halloween series. She fuels herself with well-made sandwiches and conversations with strangers. Sai is also a family and event photographer at Citybird Photo.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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