Dyker Heights neighborhood goes all out with holiday decorations

DYKER HEIGHTS (WABC) -- It is a neighborhood tradition that keeps going to new heights. Every year the holiday decorations on the homes in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn keep getting bigger and bigger.

"Every year we add something else - I told her the other snowflake is coming for the top of the house," says Debbe Guercio.

Some trees in the neighborhood have 18,000 lights on them alone.

The neighborhood goes above and beyond the traditional holiday decorations, so much that tour buses make stops so people can take pictures.

"I love it - I love decorating for the holidays, it's my favorite thing, so I am all about it," says visitor Colline Laninga.

However, making an awe-worthy home takes a lot of planning.

"We started like in the beginning of November," says resident Jaclyn Mungnano.

Decorating also takes treacherous balancing acts - one homeowner had to climb out the window in order to bolt a reindeer to the roof. Some people choose to just leave the lights to the professionals.

"We actually hire a company that comes and does it," says Jerry Donofrio.

With all of these twinkling lights, there is one downside - electric bills.

"It does go up, it goes up quite a bit," says Guercio, "next year we're thinking of switching to LED lights."

Residents say everything is all worth it when they see the faces of children and visitors light up.

"It makes the holidays happier than they normally are," Guercio adds.

You might wonder if it gets competitive in Dyker Heights - it all depends on who you ask. Others tell Eyewitness news that it is all in fun.