For six decades, Linus has spent Halloween night waiting in a pumpkin patch for a visitor no one else believes will come.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” debuted on CBS on Oct. 27, 1966.
The half-hour special was the third animated “Peanuts” television production, following “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Charlie Brown’s All-Stars.”
It brought Charles Schulz’s comic strip to the screen through the collaboration of Schulz, producer Lee Mendelson and animator Bill Melendez.
The idea came from Schulz’s comic strip, where Linus’ belief in the Great Pumpkin had already become a running story.
Schulz later said he imagined a child getting one holiday ahead of himself and expecting Halloween gifts, much as children expect presents at Christmas.
As the Peanuts gang prepares for Halloween, Charlie Brown plans a party and goes trick-or-treating with the others. Linus stays behind in the pumpkin patch, joined by Sally, who has chosen to trust him for the night.
Where to watch
The special premiered on CBS in 1966 and aired there annually for decades. ABC took over the broadcast in 2001.
In 2020, the “Peanuts” holiday specials moved from broadcast television to Apple TV’s streaming service. Apple made the titles available to nonsubscribers for limited free viewing periods in some holiday seasons, and the company announced in 2025 that it had extended its exclusive streaming partnership for “Peanuts” through 2030.
For the 60th anniversary, Apple TV has scheduled a free viewing window for “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on Oct. 17-18, 2026. Subscribers can stream the special on Apple TV.
See the full schedule at Apple TV Press.
