As we approach that time of year when the hours of darkness start to outnumber hours of light, we can embrace the ambiance that cool and dusky evenings provide. Here are a few places to seek out your nocturnal autumn groove:

Festival of Lights in Berlin: For the past two decades, Germany’s capital city has been shining brightly late into the autumn night. The annual endeavor of doing up the city’s most iconic buildings and landmarks in thematically-inspired displays of light is undertaken for the 20th time with a program titled “Celebrating Freedom,” fitting in the year that marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. From Oct. 4-13, visitors can take part in guided walks or bus tours taking in the light, projection and video art covering buildings, streets and squares. One of the program highlights is a musical production interpreted by the German DJ and record producer Paul van Dyk. On Oct. 8 and 9, the interior of the Berliner Dom, the city’s vast cathedral, will set the scene for a musical and visual experience titled “Escape Reality.” Tickets to the one-hour show go for 45 euros plus booking free; entry to the festival itself is free.

Other festivals of light of note taking place this autumn include the Signal Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, Oct. 10-13; Glow in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Nov. 9-16 and the Fête des Lumières in Lyon, France, Dec. 5-8. Online: festival-of-lights.de/en

Museum Night in Luxembourg City: The compact capital of a small nation packs an outsize punch in terms of arts and culture, which it will put on full display Oct. 12. From 5 p.m.-1 a.m., seven participating museums will offer programs made up of performances, DJ sets, music, workshops, guided tours and culinary surprises. A shuttle will whisk visitors between the venues. Tickets, available at all participating museums, will go for 15 euros for adults and 7 euros for young people ages 16-26. Online: museumsmile.lu/en/nuit-des-musees

Other upcoming museum nights include the ORF Long Night of Museums in Vienna, Austria and other cities throughout the land on Oct. 5; Museum Night in The Hague, Netherlands Oct. 12 and Museum Night Fever in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 19.

Copenhagen Culture Night: Similar to a museum night, the Danish capital throws the doors open to an even wider variety of venues, offering a merry mishmash of possible nighttime pursuits. Outside-the-mainstream activities to undertake on the night of Oct. 11 might include a visit to a fishery inspection vessel; swimming by candlelight to the sounds of gentle music in Frederiksberg’s public swimming pool; experiencing the food, arts, crafts and culture of the Faroe Islands at the Føroyahúsið; or testing one’s balance and orientation at The Tube, a series of interactive rooms found within the city’s Central Station. Culture passes go for 125 Danish Krone, about $18.50. Pass holders can take one or two children under the age of 12 along free of charge. Online: kulturnatten.dk

Overnight urban hiking: Hiking takes on a whole new dimension when it’s carried out during the darkest hours of the night. Megamarsch is the name given to a series of long-distance walks that take place in and around an urban setting. While completing a 100 km circuit is considered the ultimate goal, participants who manage to achieve distances of 40, 60 or 80 km are also given certificates of recognition. The event’s app gives participants the peace of mind of knowing where they are at any given time. Registration fees for the next upcoming event, a hike beginning in Cologne Sept. 21-22, come in at 79.57 euros. Other German cities hosting walks in the next few months include Frankfurt am Main on Oct. 12-13 and Ruegen on Oct. 19-20. A walk starting in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, has been planned for Oct. 26-27. Online: megamarsch.de

Festival of Fear in Rust, Germany: Halloween is an American import that’s been eagerly embraced by Germany’s residents, and finding a gruesome scare not too far from home is generally pretty easy. Europa Park, a massive German theme park close to the French border, gets into the spirit of the season with its horror nights titled Traumatica - Festival of Fear, set to scare the socks off visitors on Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 25-Oct. 31, as well as on a pair of Thursdays and Halloween day itself. The park is divided into six different scare zones, from a freak-filled funhouse to a wax museum inhabited by a bloodthirsty being. Additional offerings include an ice show and a performance set to music on the main stage. Tickets are available in advance, with prices starting at 33 euros and up, depending on the night. The action unfolds from 7 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Access is granted only to those ages 16 and over. Online: traumatica.com/en

Another theme park, Movie Park Germany, also celebrates Halloween by letting loose an assortment of monsters, zombies and serial killers from recent horror films on selected dates in October and November. The park is located in Bottrop.