This holiday season, make VPR and VPR Classical part of your celebrations and enjoy a variety of special programs, ranging from traditional to new.
Click here for a printable version of our holiday program schedule.
Thursday, Dec. 10
9 p.m. — Hanukkah Lights on VPR
A listener favorite, Hanukkah Lights features new stories written by acclaimed authors. Enjoy an eclectic variety of Hanukkah stories hosted by Susan Stamberg, Murray Horwitz and Jonathan Safran Foer.
Friday, Dec. 18
Noon and 7 p.m. – Vermont Edition’s Annual Music Show
Saturday, Dec. 19
3 p.m. - Awesome Holiday Etiquette
Sunday, Dec. 20
11 a.m. — The VPR Choral Hour Holiday Show on VPR Classical
1 p.m. — Holiday Pops from the Boston Pops on VPR Classical
7 p.m. — All The Traditions Light Show on VPR
Host Robert Resnik plays three hours of “light” songs to celebrate the winter solstice.
Monday, Dec. 21
8 p.m. — St. Olaf Christmas Festival on VPR Classical
9 p.m. – Paul Winter Solstice on VPR
Celebrate the return of the sun and the warming of the heart with Paul Winter's 35th Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ.
Wednesday, Dec. 23
8 p.m. — Vermont Symphony Orchestra on VPR Classical
Blanche Moyse conducts the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in a classic performance of Handel's Messiah
9 p.m. — Light and Gold: The Music of Eric Whitacre on VPR Classical
Thursday, Dec. 24
7:45 a.m. – Willem Lange’s original story, “Favor Johnson.”
A VPR tradition, this story of a Vermont farmer, his dog, Hercules, and a fruitcake is told by VPR Commentator Willem Lange.
10 a.m. — Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on VPR Classical
Hosted by Michael Barone, this is a live service of spoken-word and music broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.
Noon – Willem Lange’s reading of Dickens,’ A Christmas Carol
VPR commentator Willem Lange reads the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
7 p.m. – Tinsel Tales
8 p.m. — A Holiday Concert with the Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont on VPR Classical
A live concert recorded earlier in the week toasts the season with a local flair.
9 p.m. — Welcome Christmas with Vocal Essence on VPR Classical
Friday, Dec. 25
Noon – Pink Martini
The internationally acclaimed “little orchestra," Pink Martini bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from across the globe. All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro emcees this special featuring timeless classics to rarely heard gems.
1 p.m. — VPR Classical presents Bella Voce (encore) on VPR Classical
7 p.m. — Live From The Fort's Mixtape, Volume 2
8 p.m. — Chanticleer Christmas on VPR Classical
9 p.m. — Christmas with the Rose Ensemble: A Rose in Winter on VPR Classical
Saturday, Dec. 26
3 p.m. – A Season’s Griot
Public radio's only nationally syndicated Kwanzaa program, A Season’s Griot has been hosted for nearly 20 years by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson. This annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African people.
Thursday, Dec. 31
9 p.m. to 5 a.m. – Toast Of The Nation
A New Year's Eve tradition since the 1970's, Toast of the Nation is the perfect program for the holiday. It's jazz that you can party to, all night from to coast, with countdowns to midnight in all four continental time zones. Spirited, improvised, grooving and swinging, each segment is a stop in a sequence of celebrations and contributing something new to the musical feast.
Friday, Jan. 1
11 a.m. — New Year’s Day Live from Vienna on VPR Classical
Noon – Live From The Fort Special: Rebroadcast
7 p.m. – The Capitol Steps
Politics takes a holiday. The Capitol Steps roast 2015 in humor and song.
