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How to Watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' This Halloween

You can catch it anytime on Apple TV+, but the classic Peanuts special will be streaming for free on October 18 and 19. Here's how to tune in while enjoying some candy and the smooth sounds of the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

 & Jordan Minor Principal Writer, Software

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Forget ghosts and ghouls, Halloween is all about pumpkins. And for more than 50 years, one legendary gourd in particular has captured the imaginations of children: The Great Pumpkin. An animated Halloween classic for generations, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, never fails to delight once spooky season rolls around. But you don't need to wait until All Hallows' Eve to catch the show. With the right video streaming service, you can watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown wherever and whenever you want.



Is 'It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' on Netflix?

No, but you can watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on a Netflix competitor: Apple TV+. Apple acquired the Peanuts rights to bring beloved specials like this and A Charlie Brown Christmas to its video-streaming platform. The service also commissions new Peanuts programs, including a recent Halloween special, The Perfect Pumpkin.

Apple TV+ costs $12.99 per month and comes with a seven-day free trial (three months if you purchase an Apple device, such as the iPhone 17). However, for a limited time, you can stream It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown if you're not an Apple+ subscriber. In a move that would please The Great Pumpkin, Apple will let you stream the program for free on Apple TV+ from Saturday, October 18 to Sunday, October 19. Paid subscribers can watch at any time, but it's great to see this limited free viewing window, an annual tradition, continue.


Will 'It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' Air on TV?

In the past, perhaps due to the spirit of generosity that permeates the holidays, Apple let PBS broadcast A Charlie Brown Christmas live and free of ads. We don't know if that will be the case this year for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. These Charlie Brown specials have been exclusive to Apple TV+ for years, acting as an incentive for families to subscribe to the service. But if that ever changes in the future, keep an eye on PBS Video or another live TV streaming service. 


Where Can You Stream the 'Great Pumpkin' Soundtrack?

The music in the various Charlie Brown specials is just as iconic as its characters. If you want to enjoy jazzy tunes by the amazing Vince Guaraldi Trio outside of the show, fire up a streaming music service. Top platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music allow you to enjoy Guaraldi's classic compositions, which are perfect for the falling leaves and cooling weather. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" is a banger that's a great background mood-setter while trick-or-treating or hosting a Halloween party.


Enjoy More Halloween Vibes

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown isn't the only spooky entertainment available. If you're old enough to stream something more intense this Halloween, check out our favorite horror streaming services. And if you want interactive Halloween fun, peruse the recommended titles in our list of the best horror games.

About Our Expert

Jordan Minor

Jordan Minor

Principal Writer, Software

My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I'm a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I'm the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977, and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.

The Technology I Use

I use the newest Android and iOS smartphones for testing, but I currently use an iPhone 14 as my personal phone. I just hate that we gave up headphone jacks.

I've always favored gaming laptops over desktops. On that note, I have a 16-inch HP Envy with an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. No matter what machine I’m working on, an alarming amount of my personal and professional life revolves around cloud-synced Google Drive files.

For food subscriptions, my household sticks with CookUnity and HelloFresh for meals. Video streaming is a bit more complicated. While there are too many services to list, we're subscribed to most of the major ones. These days, I find myself drawn to HBO Max's movies and shows, as well as Peacock's reality trash.

I've been a lifelong Nintendo fan, and I sincerely believe the Nintendo Switch will go down as one of the best gaming consoles of all time. It has an unbelievable library of new and old games from Nintendo and third-party companies. The handheld/console hybrid approach makes playing games so much more flexible, a legacy that continues with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Valve’s Steam Deck.

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