The 1966 Halloween classic, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, has been a staple on broadcast television, but this year marks only the second time in 56 years that it will not be broadcast on local television.

In 2018, Apple purchased the rights to the Peanuts specials, and they became an exclusive for its streaming service, Apple TV+, in 2020. The show aired on PBS stations last year, but this year, Apple is making its pumpkin patch a walled garden again. That means you'll have to fire up your favorite streaming device and sign up for an Apple TV+ account if you want to stream it. The service costs $4.99 a month, but Apple is being nice and offering It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to view for free later this month.

Streaming Free Oct 28-31

According to a press release from the company, the iconic Halloween special will be available to stream for free Friday, October 28, 2022 until Monday, October 31, 2022.

That should cover most people that want to enjoy some trick-or-treat fun with Linus, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts gang, but it does make you beholden to the whims of a third party and it also forces you to install an app and create an account on another service (if you don't already have one). If you have an Apple TV+ subscription, you can stream the show anytime.

Buy the Specials on Home Video

As convenient as streaming can be, we're still big proponents of owning physical discs. They don't require an internet connection, no apps required, and you don't have to sign up for services and provide your personal information to anyone. Streaming is great, until it isn't, but the choice is ultimately yours! In fact, I'm still enjoying the combo DVD set that I purchased many years ago with all the Peanuts specials in one package.

Warner Home Video now offers It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, with A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas in one set that includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and standard HD Blu-ray discs. (Unfortunately, no online codes appear to be included) This set comes with the bonus episodes and featurettes as well:

• It's Magic, Charlie Brown
• Charlie Brown's All-Stars
• We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown!
• The Mayflower Voyagers
• Play It Again, Charlie Brown
• Popcorn & Jellybeans: Making a Thanksgiving Classic
• It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown
• It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown
• A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas

Gift Shop merchant Amazon.com is currently offering the Peanuts Holiday Collection for just $29. If you have kids, or you're just a kid at heart that needs something simple and fun in a chaotic world, you can pick up lots of great Peanuts shows for a really good price!

Ultimately, whether you want to stream it or spin it on disc, it's hard to imagine letting Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas go by without enjoying time with the Peanuts gang!

Photo courtesy of Apple