WXXI TV

A Classic Christmas with the Bach Festival Society • WXXI-TV

The Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra performs a beloved Central Florida Tradition.

A Classic Christmas with the Bach Festival Society airs Tuesday, December 24 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

A Classic Christmas is a beloved Central Florida tradition. From the beautiful Knowles Memorial Chapel on the campus of Rollins College, the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra, along with guest soloists Mary Wilson and Stephen Mumbert, as well as the Bach Festival Children’s Choir, perform custom arrangements of treasured holiday classics created specifically for this joyous celebration.

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas • WXXI-TV

Much loved home cook Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother’s homeland, Scotland, for a magical winter break.

Mary Berry’s Highland Christmas airs Monday, December 23 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Much loved home cook Dame Mary Berry travels to her mother’s homeland Scotland for a magical winter break. Inspired by her own family holidays, she cooks up an array of sumptuous dishes. She’s joined by friends Andy Murray, Iain Stirling and Emeli Sandé to cook indulgent Christmas dishes that can be enjoyed anytime over the holidays.

Mary begins her journey on a steam train, heading off into the beautiful Highlands.

After settling into her cozy holiday kitchen, Mary kicks things off creating a spectacular Christmas Cranachan wreath, combining the traditional Scottish dessert with a pavlova twist.

Mary takes a trip to tennis player Andy Murray’s hotel in Dunblane to catch up with him and his Granny, where they cook classic breakfast dish Kedgeree and tease Andy about his culinary skills.

Back at the cottage, Mary rustles up the perfect festive canape for any time of day with smoked salmon and guacamole, followed by her Fennel and red onion tarte tatin accompanied with a raw winter veg slaw.

Iain Stirling attempts to herd some reindeer while Mary rustles up an indulgent Christmas fondue with a twist; it uses the classic leftovers from the big day – proving her theory that everything tastes better with melted cheese, especially pigs in blankets. Back at the cottage, Mary makes her ‘Happy Christmas Pie’ with Aberdeen Angus beef and pickled walnuts. Then it’s off to a traditional ceilidh, where she makes her classic mulled wine for the revelers.

Inspired by her years spent working in the alps as a chalet girl, Mary makes her festive stollen, perfect at any time over the season.

Aberdeenshire-raised singer, Emeli Sandé, pops in to help Mary make her classic Buche de Noel, before surprising her with some visitors – a carol singing choir, performing outside the cottage in the snow.

Ragtime, The Musical: All Star Reunion Concert • WXXI-TV

Celebrate the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Ragtime with this once-in-a-lifetime reunion concert.

Ragtime, The Musical: All Star Reunion Concert airs Saturday, December 7 at 9:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Featuring original cast members, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Peter Friedman, joined by Kelli O’Hara.

Photo: Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell/Credit: Jenny Anderson

NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “Sara Bareilles: New Year’s Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra & Friends” • WXXI-TV

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and actress Sara Bareilles takes the stage at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra for an enchanting evening of song and celebration in this New Year’s Eve special.

NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “Sara Bareilles: New Year’s Eve with the National Symphony Orchestra & Friends” airs Tuesday, December 31 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

From her first smash hit “Love Song” to her Broadway songwriting and later performing debut with the musical “Waitress,” Bareilles’ amazing artistry has been recognized with multiple Grammy and Tony awards and nominations. She will be joined by special guests Rufus Wainwright, Emily King, and David Ryan Harris for this career-spanning night.

Photo: Sara Bareilles performing with the National Symphony Orchestra/Credit: Mauricio Castro

The Five Demands • WXXI-TV

A riveting story about the student strike that changed the face of higher education. In April 1969, a small group of Black and Puerto Rican students shut down the City College of New York, an elite public university located in the heart of Harlem.

The Five Demands airs Monday, December 30 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

Far more attention has been paid to white middle-class students in opposition to the Vietnam War, yet this protest had a more significant impact: the CCNY strikers were the vanguard of a national Black student movement that transformed the culture, mission, and curriculum of American higher education. Fueled by the revolutionary fervor sweeping the nation, the strike turned into an uprising, leading to the extended occupation of the campus, the cancelation of classes, the arrest of students, and the resignation of the college president. Told through the participants’ point of view, the film follows the students’ struggle against the institutional racism that, for over a century, had shut out people of color from this institution and other public universities.

Photo: Black and Puerto Rican students march through campus with the Puerto Rican flag/Credit: CCNY

Ready for London 2025 • WXXI-TV

Take an inside look into the planning, preparation, and excitement surrounding London’s New Year’s Day Parade.

Ready for London 2025 airs Friday, December 27 at 8:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Each year, more than 20 U.S. marching bands and a thousand varsity cheerleaders fill the streets of London for their moment in the global spotlight as they guide viewers into the New Year with entertaining performances. In preparation for bringing students to participate in London’s New Year’s Day Parade 2025, we follow the band directors of Western Kentucky University and Florida’s River View High School as they plan their trip to London. With six months to go, they walk the parade route and explore the city, to share their experience of how they are getting ready to take part in the prestigious annual event.

Joy – Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir • WXXI-TV

Featuring Broadway star Michael Maliakel and beloved screen and stage actress Lesley Nicol.

Joy – Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir airs Tuesday, December 17 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV. It repeats Sunday, December 22 at 2:30 p.m.

A treasured annual special, this edition weaves together uplifting music led by Maliakel and the world-famous Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square with powerful storytelling from Nicol and a cast of actors to elicit the spirit of the season for viewers of all ages and backgrounds.

Violent Femme’s 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony • WXXI-TV

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album, the folk punk group Violent Femmes invited the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra to be their “back-up band” in this electrifying concert which mixes classical and rock.

Violent Femme’s 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony airs Friday, December 13 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Violent Femmes formed in 1981 playing on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their first album, “Violent Femmes,” amplified teenage angst and alienation with such songs as “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up,” and “Gone Daddy Gone,” written by lead vocalist and guitarist Gordon Gano before he’d even gotten his driver’s license. Today, that debut release stands as a pillar of an American underground movement, and this concert pays homage to the band’s lasting influence.

Photo: Gordon Gano/Credit: Janelle Rominski/Milwaukee PBS