The halls of Dyker Heights are decked once again, continuing the neighborhood’s decades-long tradition of transforming into a dazzling winter wonderland.
Each year, thousands of visitors flock to the area to admire the elaborate holiday displays, which first gained widespread attention in the 1980s when local residents began dressing up their homes.
Lucy Spata, credited as the pioneer of the age-old tradition, started to decorate her home in 1986 after her parents passed away as a way to honor her mother’s love for decorating.
“I started a bit at a time, but of course they didn’t like it because people were starting to stop and they didn’t like what they thought it would be,” Spata told Brooklyn Paper last year. “So the more that they complained, every year I added more and more.”
Over time, neighbors followed suit. Today, the displays have grown into a must-see attraction, drawing visitors from around the globe.
Karen Guillermo and Roman Lansao, visiting from Seattle, discovered the famed Dyker Heights Christmas lights through Google, where the neighborhood ranked as the top spot for holiday displays in New York City.
The couple was captivated by the spectacle, describing it as “amazing.”
“It’s fun to see all the lights and all the people that are here. Everyone is in the spirit,” Lansao said.
“We saw pictures online, but it’s even more magical in person,” Guillermo added.
The Dyker Heights Christmas lights, featuring a mix of twinkling lights, oversized inflatables, and meticulously crafted decorations, have become a holiday tradition that rivals even Manhattan’s iconic displays.
Stephanie Hislop and Lorraine Purdi, a couple from Scotland, learned about the lights through social media.
“More is more,” Hislop said of the dazzling displays. “It’s like nothing we’ve ever seen in the UK, like no one does it on such a big scale.”
The pair, who got married in New York City, were visiting during the holiday season for the first time and described the experience as “amazing.”
“We’re literally walking around, like, there’s just so much to see. It’s just constant,” Purdi said. “It’s an assault on the senses, but we love it.”
In addition to the dazzling displays, many Dyker Heights homeowners use the holiday tradition to give back to the local community. Some residents set up stands outside their homes, selling snacks, hot drinks, and other festive goodies to raise money for local causes.
In recent years, several homeowners have embraced technology, incorporating QR codes into their displays to direct visitors to online fundraising pages. This year, one Dyker Heights family decorated their home in green — the official color of muscular dystrophy awareness — in honor of 17-year-old Michael Capolongo, and to raise awareness for Michael’s Cause.
Brooklyn Paper caught up with Stephanie while she was leaving her parents’ Dyker Heights home, which they meticulously decorate each year.
“It takes them a couple of days to get everything just right, but they love bringing joy to the neighborhood,” she said. “There’s nothing like it. It feels like Christmas when you come here.”
Tara Baiano, whose boyfriend sells cannolis, rainbow cookies, hot chocolate, and coffee outside his Dyker Heights home, also appreciates the cheerful crowds.
“I love it,” she said. “I think it puts everybody in the holiday spirit.”
For Sonia Saturini and her husband, the lights are a family tradition. The Staten Island couple recently brought their children to see the over-the-top decorations. Saturini, who grew up in Bensonhurst, recalled a time when the Dyker Heights lights were a smaller affair.
“Twenty years ago, it was more scaled back,” she said. “Instead of going to the city, you come to Dyker Heights. You get the same experience.”
