Dyker Heights Christmas Lights by subway: 2026 season
Quick answer: Take the D to 79 St and walk about 15 to 20 minutes west, on hilly streets, to 83rd to 86th Streets between 11th and 13th Avenues. Or take the R to 86 St in Bay Ridge, which has elevators, and walk east about the same time. Most homes are lit from the weekend after Thanksgiving into early January. Go between dusk and 9 pm, on a weeknight if you can.
Manhattan to Dyker Heights lights
- D
- Take the D toward Coney IslandRuns all night
- Get off at 79 StOn New Utrecht Avenue
- Walk about 15 to 20 min westHilly streets, to 83rd to 86th St, 11th to 13th Av
Season and hours from past years. The lights are put up by residents, so dates vary by house.
Getting there
Every December, the homes of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn put up some of the biggest Christmas light displays in the city. It isn't an organized event: it's a residential neighborhood, with the best-known houses around 83rd to 86th Streets between 11th and 13th Avenues.
| Station | Line | Walk to the lights | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 St (New Utrecht Av) | D | About 15 to 20 min west, hilly | No |
| 86 St (Bay Ridge, at Fourth Av) | R | About 15 to 20 min east | Yes |
- From Manhattan, the D runs along Sixth Avenue (47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr, 42 St-Bryant Pk, 34 St-Herald Sq) and through Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr in Brooklyn.
- The R runs along Broadway in Manhattan and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. It is slower, but 86 St has elevators.
- The lights are spread over several blocks, so plan on a fair amount of walking once you arrive.
- Local buses run nearby and can shorten the walk. Ask Cobblehop for the bus from your station on the night.
When to go
- Most homes put their lights up the weekend after Thanksgiving. Some start earlier, and the displays usually stay up until the end of the first week of January.
- Go between dusk and about 9 pm. In past years the local community board asked residents to switch displays off at midnight.
- The busiest nights are weekends in mid-December, especially from 5 pm to 9 pm. Weeknights are usually less crowded.
- Tour buses bring groups too. In 2016 the NYPD set aside space on 86th Street for tour buses to drop people off.
Going home
Both the D and the R run all night, so there's no last train to worry about. Late at night they run less often, so check the next train before you start the walk back. If you came on the D, the R at 86 St is another way home, and it has elevators.
Accessibility
- 86 St on the R has elevators. 79 St on the D doesn't.
- The walk from 79 St is hilly, and the sidewalks can be packed, especially on weekend evenings. A weeknight visit is much easier with a wheelchair or stroller.
- Public restrooms are hard to find in the area.
- Elevators can be out of service. Check the MTA's elevator and escalator status before you go.
Common mistakes
- Driving. Traffic and parking are very hard on December evenings. The subway is easier.
- Going on a Saturday in mid-December and expecting room to walk. Pick a weeknight.
- Going too early in the season. Many displays aren't up until Thanksgiving weekend or later.
- Forgetting it's a residential street. Stay on the sidewalk, keep the noise down and don't walk onto anyone's property.
- Not planning for a restroom. Public ones are hard to find nearby.
Dyker Heights Christmas Lights by subway: common questions
What subway goes to the Dyker Heights Christmas Lights?
The D to 79 St, then about a 15 to 20 minute walk west, or the R to 86 St in Bay Ridge, then about a 15 to 20 minute walk east.
When are the Dyker Heights lights on in 2026?
Most homes light up from the weekend after Thanksgiving until early January. It isn't an official event, so each house sets its own dates.
What is the best time to see the Dyker Heights lights?
Between dusk and about 9 pm, on a weeknight if you can. Mid-December weekends from 5 pm to 9 pm are the most crowded.
Is there an accessible subway station near Dyker Heights?
Yes. 86 St on the R in Bay Ridge has elevators. 79 St on the D doesn't. The walk from 79 St is hilly.
Official sources
Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with the MTA or the residents and groups in Dyker Heights. Check their pages for the latest:
Season and hours from past years; the displays are put up by residents, so dates vary. Station accessibility from the MTA's station data. Checked November 7, 2026. Check live service before you go.
Plan your trip in Cobblehop. Say where you're going and get one clear route with live times, a leave-in countdown and an alert before your stop. Nothing to install.
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