Traveling in the Dark Season – Enjoying Natural Darkness

Summer and the Midnight Sun make a significant season for tourism across Finland. The dark season has received less attention, even though it lasts considerably longer. Light pollution has taken over big cities and it is increasingly hard to find true darkness. Darkness is often considered something negative, even though it helps maintain a daily rhythm and creates a unique atmosphere.

After the nightless nights, autumn brings darker evenings, when the mood changes considerably. The dark season doesn’t have to be bleak; you can enjoy it as well. The starry sky and the night are a big part of Finnish cultural heritage and folklore. In the Kalevala, too, the earth was created from the lower part of a duck’s egg, the sky from the upper part, the sun from the yolk, the moon from the white, and the stars from the shell’s fragments. So let’s head out to admire the darkness with the tips below.

What can you do during the dark season?

When moving about in the dark, remember safety and use reflectors or, for example, a headlamp as needed. Once the basics are in order, you can head out to enjoy the darkness with peace of mind.

Spotting the Northern Lights, the Milky Way and constellations

As the evenings grow darker, turn your gaze to the sky. Following the moon’s phases is interesting, and especially the full moon is tied to many myths and stories. Searching for and identifying different constellations suits the whole family, and you don’t need to buy expensive gear. Early autumn is also an ideal time to admire the Milky Way. In terms of conditions, darkening evenings, few clouds and no snow create excellent settings for observing the Milky Way. You’ll find the Milky Way best by going far from light pollution and settlements. While spotting the Milky Way, with a bit of luck you can see the Northern Lights too. Early autumn in Äänekoski has been a very good time for aurora hunters, and the northern lights have put on shows on many evenings.

Halloween Walk

The hugely popular Halloween Walk in Äänekoski is held in Suolahti. The event was chosen as Äänekoski’s 2022 Sports Act of the Year. Held at dusk, the walk creates an exciting atmosphere with darkness and decorations. The Halloween Walk is about 3.5 kilometres long and suits all ages seeking dark-season experiences. This year the Halloween Walk was held on 28 October and attracted a thousand-strong crowd.

Disc golf in the dark

Did you know you can play disc golf in the dark? With LED lights, the sport gets a different kind of challenge, and playing after dark is great fun. So pack your LEDs and head out to test how disc golf works at night. In Äänekoski you’ll find the Laajalahti disc golf course, where you can throw discs in winter, too, on a well-maintained course.

Awakening the senses

In dim light, your vision adapts to low light and after a moment in the dark you can perceive your surroundings quite well. At the same time your other senses sharpen; it’s quieter in the dark, and you can focus on listening to your breathing and the natural sounds that break the silence, such as wind or water. Feel the elements around you, such as tree bark, soft moss or fallen leaves underfoot. As evenings grow darker, the temperature outside often drops—making it lovely to sip a steaming evening tea in the dark, surrounded by nature.

You can also enjoy the dark on the edges of the city. In Äänekoski, different lights create atmosphere as you go. 

Creatures of the night

Shyer animals move at night and during the dark season. As the sun sets, hares, foxes and other wildlife begin their nightly routines. Nocturnal animals such as owls and bats can be spotted on autumn evenings and nights, hunting with the help of their senses. Spotting animals that move in the dark takes patience, but even if none cross your path, you’ll always feel better after spending time outdoors.

After the snow arrives

The arrival of snow adds a new dimension to dark-season travel. Sparkling drifts bring natural light to the darkness, and the crunching snow under your shoes may be the only sound around.

Blue hour

The twilight phenomenon observed in the mornings and evenings is known as the blue hour. At that time the light is bluish as sunlight arrives indirectly through the atmosphere. The blue hour has been depicted widely in art and literature, as well as in songs. You can experience it on a cloudless day, and it lasts about 40 minutes.

Skiing on the ice by moonlight

Out on the ice, light pollution is minimal, and on clear nights the moon beautifully illuminates the tracks. When the sky twinkles along with the snow, skiing on a frosty night has a wonderful atmosphere. In the dark and when moving alone, keep safety in mind: always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If you go skiing on the ice, remember to take ice picks and follow weather reports and trail info.