Contact: Rick Reyer, Central Regional Manager
Ph: 715-261-6391 or rick.reyer@wpr.org
Madison, Wis. – From music and entertainment to conversation, Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) unwraps the holidays with seasonal favorites and some new specials to enjoy.
As WPR closes out it’s centennial year, producers at Chapter A Day went into the archives to find vintage recordings of seasonal programs for rebroadcast as a special treat at Christmas-time. These include Two Kinds of Christmas, featuring Ken Ohst, Cliff Roberts, Karl Schmidt and Jim Fleming, on Christmas Day and Ohst’s reading of A Christmas Carol December 26 to 28.
Another familiar voice returns to WPR on December 22 at 11 a.m. Just before loading up his sleigh, Santa Claus makes his annual visit to The Larry Meiller Show on The Ideas Network to take calls from children from all across the state. The Ideas Network brings back new editions of the popular Big River Radio Wave, Tent Show Radio and Capitol Steps holiday specials. Listeners will also hear a few unconventional offerings including a whimsical take on holiday mishaps with Happy(ish) Holidays from Terrible, Thanks for Listening and an exploration of circadian rhythms on Tick, Tock, Circadian Clock.
WPR classical music host Lori Skelton begins our schedule of specials on the NPR News & Classical Music Network on Sunday, December 10 at 1 p.m. with carols from the Eau Claire Master Singers. Other favorites this season include Hanukkah Lights 2017, St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Christmas at Luther and New Year’s Concert from Vienna. Two new music programs are highlighted on Christmas Eve. First, Christmas with Morehouse and Spelman Glee Clubs features the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, two of our nation’s most prestigious historically black institutions. Holiday Pops promises a rousing concert of carols and orchestral works with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Both networks will also feature seasonal editions of Wisconsin Life and Simply Folk. A complete WPR Holiday schedule is available at wpr.org/holidays.