It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Year: 1966

Runtime: 25 mins

Language: English

ComedyAnimationFamily

Every Halloween the Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch, and the Peanuts gang gathers for a classic celebration. Charlie Brown struggles to organize a Halloween party, Snoopy imagines daring battles with the Red Baron, and Linus waits patiently for the legendary Great Pumpkin to appear.

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It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

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In late October, Linus writes and sends a letter addressed to the Great Pumpkin, facing the ridicule of his peers. Sally Brown, driven by her crush on Linus, is the only one who wholeheartedly believes in his message.

Meanwhile, Charlie Brown proudly announces that he has been invited to Violet’s Halloween party, much to Lucy Van Pelt’s disbelief.

On Halloween night, the Peanuts gang gear up in their costumes and head out for trick-or-treating, but they pause at the pumpkin patch to tease Linus, who remains vigil for the Great Pumpkin instead of joining in the candy quest. Sally breaks off from the group to stay with Linus, and he explains that the Great Pumpkin rises in the patch of the most sincere believers.

As the others go from door to door, they amass a bounty of candy and treats, while Charlie Brown ends up with only rocks. The crew then heads to Violet’s Halloween party, where Violet uses Charlie Brown as a model, drawing jack-o-lantern designs on his bald head in a moment of playful humiliation.

Meanwhile, Snoopy, dressed as a World War I flying ace, climbs onto his doghouse and imagines it as a Sopwith Camel, engaging in a dramatic aerial duel with the elusive Red Baron. Snoopy is “shot down” and must navigate on foot through the treacherous countryside behind enemy lines, finally arriving at the party, where he slips into the apple-bobbing tank as Lucy partakes. The music from Schroeder accompanies Snoopy’s mood, swinging between joyful and sorrowful until Snoopy accidentally howls and retreats in embarrassment.

Back at the pumpkin patch, Sally grows skeptical until Linus hears a rustling nearby and spots a distant figure. Convinced it is the Great Pumpkin, he faints with excitement. The figure turns out to be Snoopy, and Sally chides Linus for ruining her night.

At 4 a.m., Lucy goes out to fetch a shivering Linus from the cold and tuck him back into bed. The next day, Charlie Brown and Linus reflect on the previous night. Charlie Brown tries to comfort Linus by admitting he has also done some dumb things, but Linus remains convinced that the Great Pumpkin will surely arrive next year, leaving Charlie Brown to listen with a mix of patience and resignation.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:58

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Gentle Holiday Whimsy and Childhood Traditions like in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Whimsical stories where childhood belief and holiday spirit meet gentle disappointment.If you enjoyed the nostalgic and gentle spirit of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, you'll like these movies. This collection features stories that celebrate childhood holiday traditions, whimsical imagination, and sincere belief, all wrapped in a comforting, low-stakes atmosphere with a mix of hope and gentle realism.

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Stories in this thread often follow children or families preparing for and experiencing a holiday. The central conflict is usually light, revolving around the anticipation of magic or tradition and the potential for a small letdown, which is ultimately softened by warmth, humor, and the enduring spirit of the occasion.

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Stories where sincere faith endures despite small, relatable letdowns.Fans of Linus's patient vigil in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will appreciate these movies. Discover stories where characters hold onto sincere beliefs or hopes that aren't fully realized, yet the experience leaves them, and the audience, with a sense of resilience and optimism for the future.

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The narrative pattern involves a character investing sincere emotion and hope into an idea or event. The outcome is mixed—their specific expectation isn't met, causing a mild disappointment—but the story concludes by affirming the value of the belief itself, often leaving the character wiser but still hopeful.

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These films are connected by their shared focus on the bittersweet but lighthearted balance between hope and reality. They feature straightforward narratives with mixed endings, where the emotional weight is not the failure itself, but the quiet strength found in maintaining one's spirit after a small setback.

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