Traditions are hard to come by, especially in these unusual times. However, one of our favorite pasttimes here at WHRV, months in the making and planning, is our annual holiday programming. This year we’re featuring a set of seasonal offerings sure to delight as we celebrate this special time of the year.

Our annual Sunday before Christmas program this year kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on December 20.

6 p.m. It’s the return of A Cowboy Christmas. Get ready to two-step round the Christmas tree with the Riders in the Sky Gang, Asleep at the Wheel, and the original singing cowboy Gene Autry.

7 p.m. Pure holiday Americana with A Pickin’ Holiday and this year also featuring classic country seasonal music. Listen as Bluegrass legend Del McCoury puts a Bluegrass spin on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and Country superstar Johnny Cash performs some holiday standards.

9 p.m. Acoustic Highway celebrates the spirit of the holidays with music from James Taylor, Art Garfunkel and Judy Collins. We’ll also feature several tracks from one of the most beloved holiday albums ever released with John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas. And it’s also the annual WHRO staff caroling session. This year enjoy the staff’s performance of “Holly Jolly Christmas.”

10 p.m. Past performances of local singer/ songwriters’ holiday songs live from the WHRV studio. It wouldn’t be the Sunday before Christmas without friends like Narissa Bond, Brandon Parr, Skip Friel, Jim Masters, Doug Wilcox and others who have generously visited the studio for years helping to usher in the wonderful time that is Christmas.

11 p.m. Lost in the Shuffle Holiday Edition hosted by our own Jeff Sander. Listen for those classic holiday tunes from Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Supremes, The Temptations, Elvis and The Ventures. Often lost but never forgotten performances of seasonal classics.

12 a.m. Seasonal instrumental tunes with the New England Harp Ensemble, Stephen Bennett, Celtic artist Kevin Burke, violinist Mark O’Connor and local musician Timothy Seaman. Also, a tribute to the Winter Solstice as we celebrate the arrival of the longest night of the year with music from the Windham Hill Series.

And, for those sleep-deprived parents up all night putting the finishing touches on the train set and dollhouse, we have a backdrop of music to help keep you moving in the final push on Christmas morning. From 1–3 a.m. we’ll feature a two-hour holiday edition of Lost in the Shuffle, and from 3–5 a.m. hear Joy to the World with jazz pianist Bob Thompson, who each year hosts a holiday concert. Listen to this live performance that captures wonderful performances by artists Mollie O'Brien and Catherine Russell.

Christmas Day

9 a.m. All Songs Considered Holiday Show

10 a.m. Hollywood Holiday

1 a.m. Festival of Lessons and Carols

2 p.m. Home for the Holidays

1 p.m. Tinsel Tales

2 p.m. Tiny Desk Holiday

3 p.m. The Story of Christmas

And our locally produced shows by Jae Sinnett and Paul Shugrue also get in the holiday spirit:

7 p.m. R&B Chronicles Christmas Show

8 p.m. A Shot of the Blues Christmas Edition

10 p.m. Mountain Stage’s Holiday Show

It’s our labor of love and musical gift to you as we celebrate the holidays here at WHRV.