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Winter holiday specials throughout the month of December.Click here for printable PDF of KPBX specials.

Christmas Weekend Programs

Christmas Eve

10 am - Handel's Messiah
Now an acclaimed CD, Jeannette Sorrell’s interpretation of Handel’s Messiah has inspired audiences across the country on many national radio broadcasts. Taking their cue from Handel’s original conception of the piece as theatrical entertainment, Sorrell and her actor-singers take the listeners on a spiritual and emotional journey. The program heads to New York City following local performances.

1 pm - All Songs Considered for the Holidays
Bob's had it with the holidays. He storms out of the studio and finds himself taking a Dickensian journey, with visits from some old friends including Carrie Brownstein, Dan Auerbach, Aimee Mann, Ben Folds, and more. And um, they will also play the usual unusual holiday songs.

6 pm - It’s a Wonderful Life, live from The Bing Crosby Theatre
Spokane Civic Theatre presents this classic story as a 1940's radio theatre production. While the audience at the Bing will see behind-the-scenes, we'll be broadcasting the true radio experience live!

7 pm to midnight - Local Holiday Concerts
Tune in for an annual tradition as Verne and Jim prepare selections from holiday concerts throughout the community.  Concerts include Gonzaga, Whitworth, and so much more!

Christmas Day

10 am - Canadian Brass: Christmas Time is Here
This program features arrangements of music by Vince Guaraldi and Luther Henderson as well as traditional favorites from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty the Snowman" and more – timeless classics infused with jazz and lush harmonies. The selections on this program are featured on the quintet's latest album, "Christmas Time is Here."

11 am - Leroy Anderson Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with the music of Leroy Anderson! Featuring recorded performances of Leroy Anderson’s Christmas Music with Leonard Slatkin conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Leroy Anderson conducting his “Pops” Concert Orchestra. Hear Leroy Anderson talking about how he wrote some of his famous Christmas music and what Christmas means to him.

The Moth: Unexpected Gifts of December
Sunday, Dec. 25 at 12 p.m. 
The unexpected gifts of December: holiday customs, brand new traditions, flying cows, fruit, luminaries and a magical forest. Hosted by The Moth’s Executive Producer, Sarah Austin Jenness. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.

1 pm - Front Porch Bluegrass Christmas
Kevin Brown takes us on a tour of holiday Bluegrass music

2 pm - A Christmas Celtic Sojourn
Brian O'Donovan's A Celtic Sojourn has thrilled radio audiences for almost thirty years. For the last fourteen, the Christmas-themed live version of the show has drawn on Celtic, Pagan, and Christian traditions to celebrate the music of this season.

3 pm - Inland Folk Christmas
Dan Maher celebrates the season with folk music from the region.

4 pm - Hanukkah Lights
A perennial NPR favorite with all new Hanukkah stories. Authors include R.L. Maizes, Elisa Albert, Ellen Orleans, and Lia Pripstein. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz

8 pm - Paul Winter’s 36th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration
Celebrate the Return of the Sun -- and the Warming of the heart with Paul Winter's Annual Winter Solstice Celebration. Join us in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. The performance brings traditional holiday favorites and new sounds from around the world with special guests Ivan Lins and Renato Braz. Hosted by John Schaefer.

10 pm - Soundspace Holiday
Zan Agzigian spins a two hour holiday special full of celebration and gratitude.

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