1:30 AM PBS Western Reserve

Pasquale Esposito: In the Spirit of Christmas*

Celebrate the holidays with the Italian American tenor in a stunning concert from Naples. Dazzling the audience with a delightful presentation of music and dance, Esposito also performs with special guests Friar Alessandro and pop star Sal Da Vinci.

Noon Fusion

Craft in America, Holiday

This program celebrates some of our most important traditions. Nordic folk woodcarver Harley Refsal brings to life the rich history of winter solstice. Clay artist Susan Garson creates fanciful Hanukkah menorahs. George Vanderbilt's opulent turn-of-the-century Christmas is recreated at the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. Daring chefs make lavish gingerbread houses for the competition at Grove Park Inn. Navidad is celebrated in San Antonio with religious processions, tamales and Kathleen Trenchard's sparkling luminarias. Garcia Art Glass makes colorful ornaments, and Veronica Castillo creates a traditional Mexican Tree of Life.

2:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

Christmas on the Danube

This special is a true holiday treat that will fill your senses with warmth, touch your heart and provide your mind with geography and history. Traveling the majestic Danube River as it passes through stunning European landscape, history and culture, CHRISTMAS ON THE DANUBE visits these cities along the Danube, which are particularly spectacular at Christmas.

3 PM PBS Western Reserve

Classic Christmas

Join hosts Gavin MacLeod and Marion Ross for this festive, all-star special of favorite carols and popular standards. Performers include Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, The Carpenters and many more.

5 PM Fusion

Hope College Christmas Vespers

This program is a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas and features some of the most beautiful choral and instrumental music of the season. Over 250 student musicians participate in ensembles that include the Hope College Orchestra, Chapel Choir and College Chorus.

6 PM Fusion

St. Thomas Christmas: Comfort & Joy

This one-hour holiday special celebrates the Advent and Christmas season, drawing from both familiar traditional carols and innovative contemporary selections. The program premieres a new commissioned original work entitled “Comfort & Joy,” composed by Jocelyn Hagen. The piece features the entire tour de force of ensembles from the University of St. Thomas, including the chamber singers, concert choir, liturgical choir, Donne unite, symphonic wind ensemble, string orchestra, and brass choir.

11:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

Carpenters: Christmas Memories*

MY MUSIC presents a special holiday program starring beloved brother-sister recording duo Richard and Karen Carpenter, the most successful American recording act of the 1970s. The all-new program focuses entirely on the Carpenters' perennially popular Christmas music favorites, including "The Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland" and “White Christmas.”

2 AMPBS Western Reserve

Craft in America, Holiday

This program celebrates some of our most important traditions. Nordic folk woodcarver Harley Refsal brings to life the rich history of winter solstice. Clay artist Susan Garson creates fanciful Hanukkah menorahs. George Vanderbilt's opulent turn-of-the-century Christmas is recreated at the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. Daring chefs make lavish gingerbread houses for the competition at Grove Park Inn. Navidad is celebrated in San Antonio with religious processions, tamales and Kathleen Trenchard's sparkling luminarias. Garcia Art Glass makes colorful ornaments, and Veronica Castillo creates a traditional Mexican Tree of Life.

3 AMPBS Western Reserve

The Great British Baking Show, Christmas Masterclass, Season 1

In the countdown to Christmas, Paul bakes St. Lucia buns and mincemeat and marzipan couronne. Mary tackles French galette, Genoa cake, and white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. Paul's showstopper kransekake is a spectacular tower of delicate rings.

4 AMPBS Western Reserve

Crane Candlelight Concert, Homeward Bound for the Holidays

In a concert tradition that began in the 1930s, the Crane Chorus and Crane Symphony Orchestra come together to present a very special holiday concert. The 2019 concert was conducted by Jeffrey Francom and highlights the best songs performed at candlelight from over the past 10 years. Making this year even more special, the Crane Chorus was joined by the Holy Name of Jesus Academy Chorus, a local youth choir, for a few songs.

6:30 AM PBS Western Reserve

Arthur’s Perfect Christmas

Plans are underway in Elwood City for the best holidays ever as Arthur, D.W., their family and friends make preparations for perfect gifts, perfect parties and perfect family traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even "Baxter Day" (Buster and his mom's special celebration). The only problem is, just like in real life, perfection is hard to attain, and things start to fall apart.

8 PM PBS Western Reserve

20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir*

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, Renée Fleming and more.

9 PM Fusion

Lidia Celebrates America—A Heartland Holiday Feast

Join award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich as she travels to the heartland of America, immersing herself in diverse cultures that provide inspiration for the holidays.

10 PM PBS Western Reserve

A Polka Christmas with The Chardon Polka Band*

PBS Western Reserve is the presenting station for this new and completely different holiday show from The Chardon Polka Band. It is jam-packed with polka-fied Christmas carols, delivering hometown holiday charm and the band’s signature wit and humor. 

10:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

All Is Bright! A Concordia Christmas*

The vocal and instrumental musical ensembles of Concordia University Irvine and friends invite you to join us for a festive collection of music that brings light, hope, and joy to the season.

1 AM PBS Western Reserve

20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir*

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, Renée Fleming and more.

3 AM PBS Western Reserve

Lidia Celebrates America—A Heartland Holiday Feast

Join award-winning chef Lidia Bastianich as she travels to the heartland of America, immersing herself in diverse cultures that provide inspiration for the holidays.

11:30 AM PBS Western Reserve

Peg + Cat + Holidays

This is a special holiday episode of Peg + Cat featuring “The Christmas Problem,” “The Hanukkah Problem” and “The Penguin Problem.” This series is designed to engage preschool children and teach them how to solve math-based problems with Peg, a chatty and tenacious five year-old, her feline pal, Cat, and her smart, handsome, cool friend Ramone.

8 PM Fusion

Hope College Christmas Vespers

This program is a celebration of the true spirit of Christmas and features some of the most beautiful choral and instrumental music of the season. Over 250 student musicians participate in ensembles that include the Hope College Orchestra, Chapel Choir and College Chorus.

9 PM PBS Western Reserve

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King*

Conceived by John Mauceri, this new work is a reimagination of Tchaikovsky’s holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 book, Alan Cumming recounts the origin story of how a prince got put into a nutcracker. Unlike the ballet, we also learn what happens when the young girl grows up, having saved the prince, and what they are doing today.

9 PM Fusion

Kingston Trio Holiday Cheers*

This holiday concert is very special in many ways, and celebrates not only the holiday season, but the closing of another chapter in the history of The Kingston Trio. The Kingston Trio perform a unique collection of seasonal songs, including several of the beautiful and inspirational songs from their ‘60s album, “The Last Month of the Year.”

2 AM PBS Western Reserve

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King*

Conceived by John Mauceri, this new work is a reimagination of Tchaikovsky’s holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker.” Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 book, Alan Cumming recounts the origin story of how a prince got put into a nutcracker. Unlike the ballet, we also learn what happens when the young girl grows up, having saved the prince, and what they are doing today.

9 AM PBS Western Reserve

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat are having a wonderful time getting ready for Christmas. There's only one dilemma—neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present! In the end, both gift-giving predicaments are simply and beautifully resolved, revealing the true spirit of the holiday season.

8 PM PBS Western Reserve

Nature, Santa’s Wild Home

Get an intimate look into life in Lapland, fabled land of Santa Claus and actual home of tenacious wildlife such as reindeer, wolverines, brown bears and more.

8 PM Fusion

A Polka Christmas with The Chardon Polka Band*

PBS Western Reserve is the presenting station for this new and completely different holiday show from The Chardon Polka Band. It is jam-packed with polka-fied Christmas carols, delivering hometown holiday charm and the band’s signature wit and humor. 

8:30 PM Fusion

Christmas on the Danube

This special is a true holiday treat that will fill your senses with warmth, touch your heart and provide your mind with geography and history. Traveling the majestic Danube River as it passes through stunning European landscape, history and culture, CHRISTMAS ON THE DANUBE visits these cities along the Danube, which are particularly spectacular at Christmas.

9 PM Fusion

Purdue 87th Anniversary Christmas Show*

This special features musical highlights from all five Purdue Musical Organizations ensembles including University Choir, Purdue Bells, Heart & Soul, the Purduettes and the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. The program begins with a behind the scenes look at the adjustments made by PMO and Purdue University in accordance with the Protect Purdue pledge in order to create this virtual production called, “A Different Kind of Christmas.”

1 AM PBS Western Reserve

Nature, Santa’s Wild Home

Get an intimate look into life in Lapland, fabled land of Santa Claus and actual home of tenacious wildlife such as reindeer, wolverines, brown bears and more.

10:30 AM PBS Western Reserve

Let’s Go Luna! Luna’s Christmas Around the World

When the Circo gets stuck at the South Pole on Christmas eve, Leo, Andy, and Carmen are convinced that Santa will never find them. With the help of their friend Luna, the kids endeavor to save Christmas, learning about holiday traditions from around the world along the way.

5:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

European Christmas Markets

Discover Europe's Christmas markets, where the town center, market square or just the narrow, cobblestone streets of the cities and towns come alive in winter with festively decorated wooden stalls offering all sorts of treats and delights. As we travel through Germany, France and Switzerland we visit cities and towns and learn of their history, see their major sights and visit their charming markets.

7 PM Fusion

A Chef’s Life Holiday Special 

Join Vivian Howard as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Hanukkkah traditions of her husband, Ben. From humble Hoppin' John to elegant red velvet cake, sample a charming and delicious holiday celebration.

7:30 AM PBS Western Reserve

Nature Cat: A Nature Carol

In the tradition of the Dickens holiday classic, Nature Cat is visited by the spirits of Nature Past (Daisy), Present (Squeeks) and Future (Hal) on Christmas Eve.

1 PM PBS Western Reserve

Arthur’s Perfect Christmas

Plans are underway in Elwood City for the best holidays ever as Arthur, D.W., their family and friends make preparations for perfect gifts, perfect parties and perfect family traditions for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even "Baxter Day" (Buster and his mom's special celebration). The only problem is, just like in real life, perfection is hard to attain, and things start to fall apart.

5 PM PBS Western Reserve

A Chef’s Life Holiday Special 

Join Vivian Howard as she serves up the best of her Southern cooking heritage and the Hanukkkah traditions of her husband, Ben. From humble Hoppin' John to elegant red velvet cake, sample a charming and delicious holiday celebration.

2 PMPBS Western Reserve

The Great British Baking Show, Christmas Masterclass, Season 1

In the countdown to Christmas, Paul bakes St. Lucia buns and mincemeat and marzipan couronne. Mary tackles French galette, Genoa cake, and white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. Paul's showstopper kransekake is a spectacular tower of delicate rings.

3:30 PM Fusion

All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914*

The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence comes a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht,” thus, beginning an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music and peace. A remarkable true story told in the words of the men who lived it, the new docu-musical All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 relives the moment when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together during World War I.

6 PM PBS Western Reserve

A Polka Christmas with The Chardon Polka Band*

PBS Western Reserve is the presenting station for this new and completely different holiday show from The Chardon Polka Band. It is jam-packed with polka-fied Christmas carols, delivering hometown holiday charm and the band’s signature wit and humor. 

6:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

The Magic of Christmas in Alsace

Christmas in the Alsace region of France is best experienced in the small towns and villages where each community has its own unique holiday traditions, celebrations, food, and of course wine. The Alsatian landscape is covered with medieval towns, castle ruins and vineyards that overflow with charm and history.

7 PM Fusion

20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir*

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, Renée Fleming and more.

11:30 PM PBS Western Reserve

Christmas on the Danube

This special is a true holiday treat that will fill your senses with warmth, touch your heart and provide your mind with geography and history. Traveling the majestic Danube River as it passes through stunning European landscape, history and culture, CHRISTMAS ON THE DANUBE visits these cities along the Danube, which are particularly spectacular at Christmas.