Welcome to December, Vermont. It’s dark and cold, which makes it the perfect time to get cozy and festive with Vermont Public’s lineup of holiday specials on radio and TV! Bookmark this post to know what's on all month.
Can’t get enough holiday music? Check out Music for the Season, our new streaming station dedicated exclusively to holiday music. Curated by our local Vermont Public Classical hosts, listen any time of day or night during the month of December to make your holiday activities even more joyful.
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Radio Holiday Specials
The following programs are listed by date and will air on either Vermont Public’s main radio station or Vermont Public Classical, as noted. Find your station or listen live.
Welcome Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 3, 12 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
There’s no better way to welcome Christmas than Welcome Christmas!, the VocalEssence holiday concert. It’s an hour of joyful, classic holiday music from VocalEssence, one of the world’s premiere choral groups, singing traditional carols and new discoveries.
Carols as Home with the Imani Winds
Wednesday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
Carols as Home features a modern take on classic Christmas carols, hosted by Imani Winds founding oboist, Toyin Spellman-Diaz. Toyin coaxes intimate stories of Christmas memories from the members of the ensemble, and why these classic carols are still essential today.
Hanukkah Lights
Thursday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m., Vermont Public
Join us for a celebration of the Jewish festival of lights through original stories read by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.
The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays
Saturday, Dec. 9, 6 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
The Film Score is devoted to holiday and wintertime movie music. In addition to beloved standards, you’ll hear an eclectic mix of wintry film scores.
Chanukah with Chicago a Cappella
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 8 p.m, Vermont Public Classical
Join Jonathan Miller, artistic director of Chicago a cappella and a longtime champion of Jewish choral music, for an inspiring and informative show featuring choral music set to Chanukah texts.
Live Concert with the VSO Brass Quintet
Thursday, Dec. 14, noon, Vermont Public Classical
Put your holiday cheer into overdrive as we welcome the VSO Brass Quintet into Stetson Studio One for a live concert broadcast, previewing their statewide tour. Helen Lyons hosts, festive fun awaits us all!
Montserrat Boy Choir
Sunday, Dec. 17, noon, Vermont Public Classical
Perched atop the mountains near Barcelona, the choir of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious boy choirs. For the first time in their 800-year history, the choir made its Midwest premiere. Bringing with them a message of peace, the choristers will use music to transcend borders and speak directly to your heart.
A Paul Winter Solstice
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m., Vermont Public
Celebrate the return of the sun - and the warming of the heart - with Paul Winter's Winter Solstice Celebration.
Vermont Edition’s Annual Music Show
Friday, Dec. 22, noon-2 p.m., Vermont Public
Join Vermont Public's Mikaela Lefrak and Mary Engisch for two hours of your favorite music from the year!
The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice
Saturday, Dec. 23, 5 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
A two-hour musical celebration of the winter holidays featuring traditional carols, wassails, hymns, spirituals, children’s game-songs, and folk dance-tunes excerpted from live Christmas Revels stage productions presented around the country.
Favor Johnson
Friday, Dec. 22, during the 8 a.m. hour and during the 4 p.m. hour
Sunday, Dec. 24, during the 8 a.m. hour, Vermont Public
Join us for a favorite holiday tradition with Willem Lange’s Favor Johnson. A Christmas classic about a hound named Hercules, Doc Jennings, homemade fruitcake and the real spirit of Christmas. Listen anytime to the story here.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Live from King’s College, Cambridge
Sunday, Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
Share in a live, world-wide Christmas Eve broadcast of a service of biblical readings, carols, and related seasonal classical music. Performed in an acoustically and architecturally renowned venue, the 500-year-old Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, England.
Your Christmas Favorites
Sunday, Dec. 24, 2 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
Tom Crann and Valerie Kahler of MPR's YourClassical host a two-hour program of favorite carols, voted on by listeners from all over the country. You can vote here!
A Christmas Carol with Willam Lange
Sunday, Dec. 24 at 6 p.m., Vermont Public
Join us for Willem Lange's classic reading of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special
Monday, Dec. 25 at noon and 7 p.m., Vermont Public
Celerate the season with NPR’s Tiny Desk holiday performances.
A Season's Griot
Tuesday, Dec. 26 at noon and 7 p.m., Vermont Public
A Season's Griot is an annual special that celebrates the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples.
Safe & Sound’s Holiday Music Special
Friday, Dec. 29 at noon and Saturday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m., Vermont Public
Join Vermont Public's Mary Engisch for holiday music leading up to the New Year.
Minnesota Orchestra New Year’s Eve Celebration
Sunday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m., Vermont Public Classical
Ring in the new year with the Minnesota Orchestra! The program opens with Bernstein’s animated Overture to Candide. Awadagin Pratt performs the Minnesota premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds for Piano and Orchestra, a work written for him. A New Year’s celebration wouldn’t be complete without adventure and passion, and the Orchestra brings that in multitudes in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved Scheherazade. Encore of 2022 live performance.
Toast of the Nation
Sunday, Dec. 31, 11 p.m.-3 a.m., Vermont Public
Every New Year's Eve since the 70's, NPR has brought the party to you, with festive jazz to ring in the New Year.
New Year’s Day Live from Vienna
Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 11a.m., Vermont Public Classical
The 2024 Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert with Maestro Christian Thielemann in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. Christian Thielemann enjoys a particularly close and productive artistic partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic. This performance marks the second time that Maestro Thielemann conducts this prestigious and beloved concert tradition.
TV Holiday Specials
The following programs are listed by date and will air on our main TV channel. Find a station or watch live.
Happy Holidays With Bing and Frank
Sunday, Dec. 3, 5 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with a timeless special, featuring the magical combination of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. In this early color broadcast from 1957, the two legends swap Christmas songs and stories and duet on some favorite holiday classics.
Rick Steves’ European Christmas
Thursday, Dec. 7, 3:30 p.m.
Rick celebrates Christmas in England, France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
Thrill of Hope: A Concordia Christmas
Thursday, Dec. 7, 10 p.m.
Celebrate the sounds of Christmas with a performance at Concordia University.
European Christmas Markets
Friday, Dec. 8, 10:30pm
Join us in discovering Europe’s Christmas Markets, where the town center, market square, or just the side of the narrow, cobblestone streets come alive in the dark of winter with festively decorated wooden stalls, offering hot wine, regional food, Christmas decorations, sweet confections, toys, regional crafts and local entertainment
Holidays at Murray State
Monday, Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m.
The Murray State University Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, a cappella group "EQ Blu," and featured faculty soloists highlight this annual seasonal special.
Season of Light: Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m.
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square join with award winning artists Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet for Season of Light: Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir, a festive and uplifting Christmas special. This concert will illuminate your holiday experience with timeless carols, treasured songs, and a story of heroic service.
Purdue 89th Anniversary Christmas Show
Thursday, Dec. 14, 10 p.m.
It's a fast-paced and high-energy with musical highlights condensed into a one-hour production.
Mary Berry’s Highlighted Christmas
Monday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m.
Mary Berry spends Christmas in her mother's homeland of Scotland to enjoy a winter break soaking up her Scottish heritage and enjoying traditional festive delights with familiar faces, as well cooking up some of her own indulgent dishes.
Crane Candlelight Concert: Let It Shine
Thursday, Dec. 21, 10 p.m.
Student musicians from SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music take to the stage this holiday season.
The Magic of Christmas in Alsace
Saturday, Dec. 23, 8:30 p.m.
Enjoy a magical Christmas in the small towns and villages.of the Alsace region of France.
20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir
Sunday, Dec. 24, 1 p.m.
Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell joins the Choir and Orchestra for this two-hour 20th anniversary retrospective with performances from Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Gladys Knight, Angela Lansbury, Hugh Bonneville, Renee Fleming and more.
Josh Turner: King Size Manger
Sunday, Dec. 24, 3 p.m.
Multi-platinum-selling recording artist Josh Turner heralds in the holiday season with his first Christmas special.
Carols at the Cathedral
Sunday, Dec. 24, 5 p.m.
It's a Christmas concert filled with hope and goodwill as the Cathedral Choir performs in Denver.
Christmas at Westminster: An Evening of Readings
Sunday, Dec. 24, 11 p.m.
Recorded at Princeton University, the Westminster Choir performs its annual holiday concert.
Christmas in New England
Monday, Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m.
From the coast of Maine to the hills of the Berkshires, New England is a uniquely magical place to celebrate the holidays. Join host Lindsay Paris as she visits eight regional destinations to take a look at the traditions and events that make Christmas in New England so special.
Carols at the Cathedral
Monday, Dec. 25, 4 p.m.
It's a Christmas concert filled with hope and goodwill as the Cathedral Choir performs in Denver.
Christmas on the Danube
Monday, Dec. 25, 5 p.m.
Visit cities along the Danube river and explore stunning European landscape, history and culture.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2023 (Premiere)
Monday, Dec. 25, 8 p.m.
The midwives of London's Nonnatus House deliver more babies and drama during the festive period, in this Christmas special.
Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2022
Monday, 12/25, 9:30 p.m.
With Christmas fast approaching life in Poplar is returning to normal after the terrible train crash.
