Most hire pro's who do just this very thing. (Who knew?). As if the visual displays weren't enough, some of the homes have Christmas music blasting from speakers. Other homeowners dress up in Santa costumes to give out gifts kids queued up at their doorsteps. Others collect money for charity. As you would imagine, the sidewalks are filled with gawkers admiring everyones holiday spirit. There was even a documentary about it!
On Saturday we took a walk around with camera in hand (naturally) so I could show you the insanity. The photos don't even do it justice. Let's just say that living in this neighborhood requires extreme jolliness.
My favorite house was this one (impossible to capture on film b/c its so huge and the crowds were all over it). The house was covered with green twinkle lights, the front yard had a family of fabulous dancing bear topiaries and a beautiful weeping willow strung with lights.
Just looking at these amazing displays tired me out. Hats off to these homeowners who turn their neighborhood into a winter wonderland. Now if I could just get around to wrapping those gifts I have hidden.
Does anyone else live near a Christmas spectacle?
whoa. i must admit it is quite beautiful to look at and i admire anyone who goes all out at the holidays like that - but i agree with you:
ReplyDelete"Let's just say that living in this neighborhood requires extreme jolliness."
LOL. Decorating in my neighbourhood doesn't get this extreme....but I sure would like to visit a neighbourhood like that to do a quick walking tour...camera in hand of course!
thanks for a trip down memory lane! i haven't lived in brooklyn for 8 years and and it's nice to see the tradition of chrismas in dyker heights holds strong.
ReplyDeleteWe live just outside of Baltimore and one of our favorite things to do during the holidays is go see Miracle on 34th Street in the Hampden section of the city. A 1 block stretch on both sides of the road goes nuts with lights and decorations. Most of the homeowners there DIY their lights, but they are still fantastic! One home has a train that goes through the exterior walls of the house out onto their front porch and then back inside the house. You can see pictures at the link below.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.christmasstreet.com/
This looks so festive! We don't have a place as decorated as this but I still enjoy driving around and seeing all the displays.
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous decorations!
ReplyDeleteActually... I kinda do live near a similar spectacle. There's a neighborhood nearby me called "Interlochen" (I think that's how it's spelled), and they have all-out decoration wars with each other every year. They spend thousands of dollars in this neighborhood to deck their houses out, and there's actually a competition between the houses each year to see who has the most popular house. Strings of cars parade through the neighborhood just to gawk at the houses from the time the sun sets to... I don't even know.
ReplyDeleteBut I remember going there a lot when I was a kid 'cause it was the best place to see Christmas lights. This made me think of it. :)
I love it! It's so festive and brings joy no matter what the age of a person. My only thought is how and where do they store all these things the rest of the year. I do appreciate anyone who does go all out because mine is indoors and I know how much work is involved.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time to share these beautiful pictures with us.
Wow, can you imagine their electrical bills! We have a similar thing in Edmonton, called "Candy Cane Lane". I always loved going as a kid.
ReplyDeleteWhoa........that is some serious decorating!
ReplyDeleteThat is really great. My next door neighbors are rocking a pretty wild Christmas light display, but nothing compares to the displays I saw in Omaha, NE when I was there for business about 5 years ago. Wow. Check out this site (I have no affiliation) - http://www.creativedecorating.com/
ReplyDeleteIncredible! My street just totally depressed me.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteAround here the lights blink to the tune on the holiday radio station! Crazy, but beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! i can't even fathom the work that goes into all that!
ReplyDeleteWe just saw a documentary about Dyker Heights (though not the one you mentioned) the other night on tv and so when you posted this I yelled "Holla!" I totally want to visit!!!
ReplyDeleteAwwww YAY! That makes me so happy!! I feel like no one in my neighborhood has been in the spirit this year! They barely have lights up!! I LOVE them! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLooks like they could put to shame boring window displays with all those amazing Christmas installations.
ReplyDeleteI know my kids love all the lights and have been asking us to drive them around to see some of the crazier houses.
ReplyDeletexo,
cristin
Wow we have nothing like that around us, but in Dallas where we used to live they have old neighborhoods that are all decked out much like what you show above!
ReplyDeleteI think most towns have at least one neighborhood like that. We have one here and it is so fun to go see it every year, although I sure don't want to do it myself!
ReplyDeleteHow do folks put up lights on that scale without blowing a fuse?
ReplyDeleteOMG! Yeah I wish I lived near people who decorated like this! When we first moved in our home, I just knew that the neighborhood down the street would have AWESOME decorations...yeah, not so much! Oh well, I guess we'll have to continue to pay for lights like these because my husband would not allow us to do this. He is a real stickler when it comes to wasting power;-)
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