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The Only 2 Ways To Watch 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' For Free In 2024 (And Why It's Not On TV Anymore)

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The annual tradition of watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown has changed dramatically in recent years, making it nearly impossible to find on traditional broadcast television. As of the current date in late 2025, the beloved Peanuts special is exclusively licensed to a single streaming platform, meaning the days of simply flipping on your local channel to catch the Halloween classic are over. This guide provides the definitive, up-to-date viewing information for the 2024 season and beyond, ensuring you don't miss Linus’s annual, heartfelt wait in the pumpkin patch.

The good news is that the special is still available to watch, and even better, the exclusive rights holder has continued a tradition of offering a short, free viewing window. If you're looking for the absolute latest details on how to stream the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang this October, you've come to the right place.

The Definitive 2024 Viewing Guide: Where to Find the Great Pumpkin

The shift in how we watch the *Peanuts* holiday specials began in 2020 when Apple TV+ acquired the exclusive streaming rights to the entire library of animated classics from WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide, and Lee Mendelson Film Productions.

This exclusivity means that for the 2024 Halloween season, and continuing through the end of the decade, there are only two primary ways to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Option 1: The Exclusive Streaming Home (Paid Subscription)

The special is available to stream anytime with an active subscription to Apple TV+. The platform is the permanent home for all the classic Peanuts specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. If you are a subscriber, you can watch the special on demand right now.

Option 2: The Limited-Time Free Window (The Best Way to Watch for Free)

Recognizing the special's importance as a cultural touchstone, Apple TV+ has generously continued the tradition of offering the special for free to everyone, regardless of subscription status, for a single weekend in October.

  • 2024 Free Streaming Dates: Saturday, October 19, through Sunday, October 20, 2024.

During this brief 48-hour window, you can watch the special on the Apple TV app on any compatible device—iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Rokus, Amazon Fire Sticks, smart TVs, and web browsers—without needing to log in or pay. This is the only official, free, and high-quality way to view the classic this year.

Why the Charlie Brown Halloween Special is No Longer on Network TV

For over five decades, the annual broadcast of *It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown* was a staple of primetime television, airing first on CBS and then later on ABC. It premiered in 1966 and was the third animated special based on the comic strip by creator Charles M. Schulz.

The move to an exclusive streaming model reflects the broader shift in media consumption. The special's last traditional TV broadcast was in 2019. When the rights were acquired by Apple TV+ in 2020, the annual network airings ceased.

There was a brief reprieve in 2020 and 2021 when Apple TV+ struck a deal with PBS to air the special for one night, allowing non-streamers to tune in. However, that agreement was not renewed, meaning there has been no traditional TV broadcast since 2021. If you are looking for the special on PBS, ABC, or any other network in 2024, you will not find it.

Behind the Scenes: The Enduring Legacy and Essential Entities

The enduring appeal of the *Peanuts* Halloween special lies in its perfect blend of autumnal atmosphere, relatable childhood anxieties, and its unforgettable jazz score. The special’s topical authority is built on the foundation of its iconic characters and the creative team that brought them to life.

The Iconic Characters and Original Voices

The special is a masterclass in character dynamics, pitting the optimistic dreamer against the cynical realist. The original voice cast, composed largely of child actors, cemented the characters’ personalities:

  • Charlie Brown: Voiced by Peter Robbins, the special follows the perpetually unlucky hero as he manages to get a rock while trick-or-treating. This unfortunate event became so famous that children across the country used to mail candy to the animation studio for Charlie Brown!
  • Linus Van Pelt: Voiced by Christopher Shea, Linus is the philosophical center of the special. He skips the Halloween celebrations to wait faithfully in the most sincere pumpkin patch for the arrival of The Great Pumpkin, a Santa Claus-like figure he believes will bring toys to all the good children.
  • Lucy Van Pelt: Voiced by Sally Dryer, Linus's bossy older sister, Lucy, is constantly teasing him and is a key figure in the special's comedy.
  • Sally Brown: Voiced by Kathy Steinberg, Sally is sweet on Linus and sacrifices her trick-or-treating to join him in the pumpkin patch, only to become furious when The Great Pumpkin fails to appear.
  • Snoopy: The silent, iconic beagle is voiced by the special's director and producer, Bill Melendez. Snoopy’s imaginative subplot involves him squaring off against the imaginary Red Baron and later joining Linus in the pumpkin patch.
  • Pigpen: Voiced by Gail DeFaria, Pigpen makes an appearance in his characteristically dusty ghost costume.

The Timeless Jazz Soundtrack

No discussion of a *Peanuts* special is complete without mentioning the music. The special's unique, melancholic, and cool jazz score was composed by the legendary Vince Guaraldi and the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The music is as much a part of the seasonal atmosphere as the animation itself.

  • Key Track: The most famous song from the special is the hauntingly beautiful "Great Pumpkin Waltz," which perfectly captures the mood of a cool, crisp autumn night.

The special, which was originally titled *It's the Great Pumpkin*, remains a classic autumnal film. Its themes of unwavering faith, disappointment, and the simple joys of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving continue to resonate with new generations. Whether you watch it during the free weekend or with an active subscription, the tradition of gathering to see if Linus will finally meet his hero is a Halloween ritual that simply can't be missed.

The Only 2 Ways to Watch 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' for Free in 2024 (And Why It's Not on TV Anymore)
watch it's the great pumpkin charlie brown
watch it's the great pumpkin charlie brown

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