Dyker Heights! 🎅🏻

This past weekend, I finally made the trip to Dyker Heights, a Brooklyn neighborhood famous for its extravagant Christmas decorations. I had been putting off getting ready to leave the house due to a wave of anxiety that seemed to hit me this month. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would regret missing out on the holiday fun if I stayed in. With rain forecasted for the week ahead and colder temperatures expected later on, I decided to seize the day while the weather was still pleasant. I layered up to ensure I wouldn’t be too cold or warm while walking around.

Once I arrived, I was a bit let down by the decorations this year. Typically, influencers flood social media with images of elaborate, over-the-top holiday displays. Still, I only spotted two or three houses that genuinely put in the effort this time around. It felt like I had been misled by all the hype! It was somewhat disappointing, especially considering I live just a 10 to 15-minute Uber ride away and often choose to explore the Christmas lights in Manhattan instead of making it out to Dyker Heights. I guess that's my karma. LOL.

As I strolled through the neighborhood, I noticed how commercialized the holiday experience has become. There were ice cream and Auntie Anne trucks mingling with vendors selling hot chocolate and coffee. Also, there were houses in the neighborhood selling hot beverages and food. It was a clever way for residents to capitalize on the crowds drawn to festively decorated homes.

While I managed to capture a few decent photos, I found it challenging to get many good angles due to the crowds of people gathering around the most elaborately adorned homes. Being it was a Sunday night, it was particularly crowded, which made it challenging to navigate as people moved at such a slow pace. The tourist buses only added to the crowds, but still, I was glad I made the effort to experience the decorations, even if they weren’t as impressive as I had hoped. I still enjoyed the more moderately decorated houses, as I don't see many holiday decorations in our area.