Watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: What Most People Get Wrong About Where to Stream It

Halloween just isn't the same without that signature Vince Guaraldi jazz and Linus Van Pelt sitting in a cold field waiting for a giant gourd to rise. But honestly, if you've tried to find the special on your local TV guide lately, you've probably noticed it’s basically gone AWOL from broadcast television.

Good grief.

If you want to watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, the days of just flipping on CBS or ABC with a pair of rabbit ears are officially over. The rights shifted, the deals changed, and now a whole generation is left scratching their heads every October. It's kinda frustrating, right? Here is the real deal on how to catch the Peanuts gang without losing your mind—or your subscription budget.

The Exclusive Home: Apple TV+ and Nothing Else

Let’s be real for a second. Apple bought the farm. Or, more accurately, they bought the pumpkin patch. Back in 2020, Apple TV+ signed a massive deal with WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide, and they recently extended that exclusive partnership through 2030.

This means that for the foreseeable future, Apple TV+ is the only place where you can legally stream the special. You won't find it on Netflix. It’s not hiding on Hulu. Disney+ doesn't have it. It is locked behind the Apple wall.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. "I don't want another monthly bill just to watch a 25-minute cartoon from 1966." I get it. The service currently costs $12.99 a month in the U.S. (though prices vary slightly in the UK and Canada).

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But here is a pro tip: you don't actually need an Apple device like an iPhone or a Mac to watch it. You can just go to tv.apple.com in a regular web browser on your PC or use the Apple TV app on a Roku, Fire Stick, or smart TV.

Can You Still Watch for Free?

Surprisingly, yes. Apple isn't completely the villain in this holiday story.

Every year, they offer a tiny, specific window where anyone can watch the special for free without a paid subscription. In 2025, that window was Saturday, October 18, and Sunday, October 19.

If you missed it, you're usually out of luck until next year unless you sign up for a trial. Apple typically offers a 7-day free trial for new users, which is plenty of time to binge the Great Pumpkin, the Thanksgiving special, and the Christmas classic in one go. If you just bought a new Apple gadget, you usually get three months free, so check your settings before you pay a dime.

Why It’s Not on PBS Anymore

A lot of people are still salty about the PBS situation. For a hot minute in 2020 and 2021, Apple played nice and let PBS air the specials once a year so families without high-speed internet wouldn't be left out.

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That deal is dead.

Since 2022, the "terrestrial" broadcast rights have effectively vanished. PBS confirmed their sub-licensing agreement ended, and there’s no sign of it coming back. It’s a bummer for the "set it and forget it" crowd who liked the ritual of gathering around the TV at 8:00 PM on a Tuesday. Now, you have to be intentional. You have to go find the app.

The Physical Media Loophole

If you hate the "streaming wars" and just want to own your traditions, there is a very obvious solution: DVD and Blu-ray. Honestly, buying the disc is the smartest move if you plan on watching this every year. You can usually find the "Peanuts Holiday Collection" for under $25, or the standalone Great Pumpkin DVD for about **$10 on Amazon** or at Walmart.

• No Wi-Fi needed.
• No monthly fees.
• You get the bonus features (like the It's Magic, Charlie Brown special which is actually pretty weird but fun).
• 4K versions exist if you really want to see every hand-drawn line in Linus’s blanket.

It’s the only way to truly "opt-out" of the Apple exclusivity. Plus, you don't have to worry about rights deals expiring in 2030.

What to Watch Out For (The Scams)

Search for "Watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown free online" and you'll find a minefield of sketchy sites.

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Don't click them.

Most of those "free movie" sites are just nests for malware. Sometimes you’ll find a "VHS rip" on the Internet Archive or a chopped-up version on YouTube, but they get taken down for copyright strikes faster than Lucy can pull away a football. If you want a smooth experience without a virus, stick to the official channels or the physical disc.

How to Set Up Your Viewing Party

If you are a subscriber or catching the free window, here is how to actually get it on your screen:

1. Open the Apple TV app or go to the website.
2. Search for "Great Pumpkin."
3. Sign in with an Apple ID (you have to have one even for the free days).
4. Hit play.

The special is only 25 minutes long, so it’s a quick watch. It’s perfect for a double feature with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving once November rolls around.

Next Steps for Your Halloween Tradition:

If you missed the free streaming window this year, your best bet is to check if you're eligible for the 7-day Apple TV+ free trial. If you’ve already used your trial, check your local library—most public libraries have the Peanuts holiday specials on DVD available to borrow for free. Just make sure to put it on hold early, because once October 1st hits, those discs disappear faster than Sally’s patience in the pumpkin patch.