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November 2026 Highlights  | What to Watch This Month on WNMU-TV 

Celebrate the stories, traditions, and people that bring November to life on WNMU-TV PBS. Explore programs honoring Native American heritage and veterans, discover more stories from America's 250th anniversary, enjoy music and holiday favorites, and find special programming featured during our year-end fundraiser starting Saturday, November 28.

FanFare Monthly Program Guide

🎥 Local Programming

Barnes-Hecker: Memories of a Misfortune

The story of Marquette County's 1926 mine disaster told by historians and descendants.

Barnes-Hecker: Memories of a Misfortune 

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine tragedy, WNMU-TV presents the story of Marquette County's 1926 mine disaster told by historians and descendants. 
Airs Sunday, November 1 at 3 PM. Repeats Nov. 2 at 9 PM


High School Bowl

Regional high schools compete in WNMU-TV’s annual single-elimination tournament culminating in the championship game in April. Teams from Sault Ste. Marie and Watersmeet compete in Game 1 of the 2026-27 High School Bowl season, hosted by Jim Koski. 
Airs Saturdays at 8 PM, beginning November 7. Repeats Mondays at 3 PM.


Media Meet

Explore issues important to the Upper Great Lakes region with community leaders, policymakers, and special guests in WNMU-TV's weekly public affairs program. 
Airs Saturdays at 6 PM (November 7, 14, 21 & 28). Repeats Sundays at 2 PM


Ask The Experts
Area experts answer questions submitted by viewers by phone or email. 

  • DNR – Thursday, November 5 at 8 PM (Repeats Nov. 6 at 3 PM)
  • Doctors: Respiratory & Sleep Medicine – Thursday, November 12 at 8 PM (Repeats Nov. 13 at 3 PM)
  • Dentists – Thursday, November 19 at 8 PM (Repeats Nov. 20 at 3 PM)

Public Eye News
Get up-to-date local and national news, weather and sports from Northern Michigan University's student-produced daily newscast.
Airs Monday–Friday at 4 PM.


What's U.P.

Stay connected to the community with updates on upcoming events across Upper Michigan and Northern Wisconsin.
Airs periodically on WNMU-TV and online.


Great Getaways

  • Water, Woods, & Legends – Take a canoe trip into the Upper Peninsula wilderness and encounter a giant troll on the side of the river made by an artist from Denmark. 
    Airs Airs Thursday, November 5 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, Nov. 6 at 5 PM and Saturday, Nov. 7 at 4:30 PM.
  • Fall Fantasy – Take a trip back in time to ride the Agawa Canyon Railroad for an incredible fall color tour through mountains and forest.  
    Airs Airs Thursday, November 12 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, Nov. 13 at 5 PM and Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4:30 PM.
  • Montreal River Hike – Hiking to the mouth of the Montreal River as it tumbles into Lake Superior. Montreal Falls is a rugged, beautiful cascade over blocky volcanic rocks. 
    Airs Thursday, November 19 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 PM and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4:30 PM.

PBS Highlights

Medicine Ball

Through basketball, Native athletes face their campus’s boarding school legacy.

🪶 Native American Heritage Month

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with documentaries and stories highlighting Indigenous history, cultural traditions, community resilience, and efforts to preserve ancestral knowledge.

  • Coming Home: From Shadowland to Spiritworld – Follow the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians as they work to reclaim their ancestral lands on the Sonoma Coast, revealing how returning to sacred places can help restore identity, resilience, and community.
    Airs Monday, November 2 at 10:00 pm.
  • First Peoples, First Stories – Meet emerging Native American storytellers as they share personal stories about their lives, experiences, and Tribal communities.
    Airs Monday-Tuesday, November 2-3 at 11:30 pm. 
  • Medicine Ball – Follow Native college athletes navigating college life and basketball at a university built on the site of a former Native boarding school, exploring basketball’s role in resilience, hope, and cultural pride.
    Airs Monday, November 9 at 10:00 pm.
  • Before America – Reframe Revolutionary-era history through Native perspectives, exploring the Indigenous history of the Great Lakes and the Anishinaabe nations who shaped events leading to the American Revolution.
    Airs Tuesday, November 17 at 3:00 pm.
  • Kanenon:we - Original Seeds – Discover Indigenous seed sovereignty through the work of Haudenosaunee women reclaiming traditional seed-keeping practices and helping preserve food security for future generations.
    Airs Tuesday, November 17 at 3:30 pm.
  • Burying The Hatchet: The Tom Quick Story – Explore how Lenni Lenape communities and tribal leaders work to confront a painful history of displacement and build a future based on trust, reconciliation, and friendship.
    Airs Saturday, November 21 at 9:00 pm.
  • And Knowledge to Keep Us – Follow Sugpiat children at Alaska’s Akhiok Kids Camp as they reconnect with ancestral knowledge and work to preserve their culture and traditions.
    Airs Sunday, November 22 at 7:00 pm. Repeats Thursday, November 26 at 8:00 pm.
  • Huunam of Paakuma – Local schoolchildren in California learn about Native American culture and history through a field trip with Tribal educators.
    Airs Monday, November 23 at 9:00 pm.
  • Threads That Bind: The Story of The Pacific Northwest Woolly Dog – Explore the history of Indigenous women who used woolly dog hair to weave ceremonial blankets and robes, and the impact of colonialism on these traditional practices.
    Airs Wednesday, November 25 at 3:30 pm.
  • Caddo Voices: a Basketry Revival – Meet modern Caddo community members working to revitalize traditional river cane basketry and restore cultural practices nearly lost after forced removal from their homeland.
    Airs Friday, November 27 at 1:30 am.
  • Still Here: Native American Resilience in New England – Explore Indigenous perspectives on New England history, including the hidden history of Indigenous slavery and ongoing efforts to preserve cultural traditions.
    Airs Sunday, November 29 at 3:30 pm.
We Chose to Go to The Moon

America’s thrilling race to space, told through iconic ’60s and ’70s music, live from Carnegie Hall.

🇺🇸 America 250

Continue exploring America's history and defining stories through documentaries about the people, events, and ideas that shaped the nation.

  • American Experience: Billy The Kid – Discover the story behind one of the American West’s most notorious outlaws and how his life became the subject of enduring myths and legends.
    Airs Sunday, November 1 at 7:00 pm.
  • American Experience: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid – Separate fact from fiction as this documentary explores the notorious outlaws, their Wild Bunch gang, and their string of successful bank and train robberies.
    Airs Sunday, November 8 at 7:00 pm.
  • We Chose to Go to The Moon – Historian John Monsky tells the story of America's journey to the Moon through live music, Broadway performers, archival imagery, and the heroes who made the Space Race possible.
    Airs Tuesday, November 10 at 8:00 pm.
  • Where The Buffalo Roam – Trace the dramatic decline and recovery of the American bison, from millions roaming the Great Plains to the conservation efforts that helped bring the species back from the brink.
    Airs Sunday, November 15 at 3:30 pm.
  • American Masters: Liz Diller & Ric Scofidio: Architect Provocateurs – Explore the career of architect Liz Diller and her late partner Ricardo Scofidio, whose work has reshaped how cities approach architecture, democracy, culture, and public life.
    Airs Tuesday, November 24 at 9:00 pm.
Crime and Punishment in America

For 250 years, Americans wrestle with crime, punishment and the meaning of justice. Premieres 11/16.

🗳️ Election & Civics

Stay informed about the 2026 midterm elections and the issues shaping American civic life.

  • Vote 2026: PBS News Election Special – Follow PBS coverage of the 2026 midterm elections.
    Airs Tuesday, November 3 at 8:00 pm.
  • Crime and Punishment in America: A House of Repentance (Beginnings to 1880) – Explore the history of criminal justice in America, beginning with the colonial era.
    Airs Monday-Friday, November 16 at 8:00 pm.
  • Crime and Punishment in America: The Criminal Type (1880-1929) – Continue exploring the evolution of criminal justice in America through the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
    Airs Tuesday, November 17 at 8:00 pm.
  • Crime and Punishment in America: Public Enemies (1929-1969) – Discover another chapter in the history of criminal justice in America.
    Airs Wednesday, November 18 at 8:00 pm.
  • Crime and Punishment in America: Tough on Crime (1970-onward) – Examine the continuing evolution of America's criminal justice system.
    Airs Friday, November 20 at 1:00 am.
2026 Salute to Service: A Veterans Day Celebration

Celebrate our nation’s heroes through both songs and stories of service in this musical special.

🎖️ Veterans Day

Honor the service and sacrifices of America's veterans through powerful personal stories, musical tributes, and historical discoveries.

  • Salute to Service 2026: A Veterans Day Celebration – Hosted by Jason Kelce, this special features The U.S. Army Field Band, musical performances by Jon Batiste, military stories, and tributes to those who have served.
    Airs Friday, November 6 at 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
  • I Lied About My Age: A Marine in World War II – Narrated by Rob Morrow, this documentary tells the story of Frank Wright, who lied about his age to join the Marines at 16 and experienced some of the Pacific War’s fiercest battles.
    Airs Sunday, November 8 at 3:00 pm.
  • Secrets of The Dead: Finding America's Fallen – Follow veterans and archaeologists investigating the Battle of Camden in South Carolina as they work to uncover the stories of Continental soldiers who lost their lives during the American Revolution.
    Airs Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 pm.
Great Performances at the Met: Andrea Chénier

Giordano’s tragedy stars tenor Piotr Beczała.

🎭 Music, Performance & Family

Enjoy classical performances and family-friendly programming that brings music and storytelling to life.

  • Great Performances at The Met: Andrea Chenier – Giordano’s passionate opera follows a poet caught in the intrigue and violence of the French Revolution.
    Airs Saturday, November 7 at 1:00 am.
  • Carnival of The Animals – A young hero sets out to find Lion’s stolen crown, meeting 13 animals preparing for the carnival. This animated special features Saint-Saëns’ beloved music recorded by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
    Airs Monday, November 16 at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm. Repeats Friday, November 20 at 10:30 pm; Saturday, November 21 at 2:30 am; Thursday, November 26 at 9:30 am; Friday, November 27 at 12:00 pm; Sunday, November 29 at 8:30 am; and Monday, November 30 at 11:30 am.
Secrets of the Dead: Jamestown's Dark Winter

Uncover the truth about the first permanent English colony in the New World

🍂 Holiday & Seasonal

Get ready for Thanksgiving and the holiday season with family favorites, a classic Halloween-night story, and documentaries exploring the season’s mysteries.

  • Frankenstein: Theater of The Mind – Experience a theatrical radio drama brought to life with actors, music, and live sound effects as Victor Frankenstein creates a creature that changes everything.
    Airs Sunday, November 1 at 12:00 am.
  • An Arthur Thanksgiving – Arthur and his family prepare for Thanksgiving, but when Pal disappears on his own adventure, everyone works together to bring him home in time for the holiday.
    Airs Monday, November 23 at 8:00 am.
  • Nature: Christmas in The Alps – Explore the Alps as winter transforms the mountains and valleys into a snowy wonderland filled with wildlife adapting to the season.
    Airs Wednesday, November 25 at 8:00 pm. Repeats Friday, November 27 at 4:00 am.
  • Secrets of The Dead: Jamestown's Dark Winter – Follow forensic anthropologists investigating the early American colony of Jamestown and the discoveries that may reveal what happened during the harsh winter of 1609.
    Airs Wednesday, November 25 at 10:00 pm.

Fundraiser Programs

WNMU-TV’s November fundraiser begins November 28 with special programming celebrating Great Lakes history, beloved television favorites, holiday traditions, and music. Explore these featured programs as the fundraiser gets underway.

Yooper Creoles: Finnish Music in Michigan’s Copper Country

When the immigrants came to America, their cultures entered the “great melting pot” in this documentary. In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Finnish immigrants mixed their musical traditions with many other cultures, creating a sound unique to the “Copper Country.”

🌊 Great Lakes & Regional Stories

Discover the history, culture, and stories that make the Great Lakes and Upper Peninsula unique.

  • Final Run: Storms of The Century – Shipwreck researcher Ric Mixter explores some of the Great Lakes’ most devastating storms, combining survivor interviews, historical research, and underwater imagery of lost ships, including the Edmund Fitzgerald.
    Airs Saturday, November 28 at 5:30 pm.
  • Yooper Creoles: Finnish Music in Michigan's Copper Country – Explore Finnish music and cultural traditions in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through the history of folklorist Alan Lomax’s 1937 recording survey.
    Airs Sunday, November 29 at 7:00 pm.
Baseball: Echoes from the Bleachers Preview

Explore the sport’s most extraordinary stories through the Baseball Hall of Fame’s vaults.

⚾ Sports & American Stories

Discover the people, events, and traditions woven into America's cultural history.

  • Baseball: Echoes From The Bleachers – Drawing on the Baseball Hall of Fame’s archival collection, this program explores how baseball reflects America's history, from wartime and integration to legendary players and defining moments.
    Airs Saturday, November 28 at 6:30 pm.
PBS All Creatures Great And Small Cheers To The Years 

Fundraiser Special

🎬 MASTERPIECE & Beloved Series

Go behind the scenes of beloved television favorites and revisit memorable moments with the casts and creators.

  • Destination Masterpiece – Take a scenic tour of Britain and discover the spectacular locations behind beloved MASTERPIECE dramas, including All Creatures Great & Small, Grantchester, Marlow Murder Club, and Poldark. Stunning cinematography and interviews with the creative teams reveal the real places that bring these stories to life.
    Airs Sunday, November 29 at 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm.
  • All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas Cheer – Join the cast and creators for a behind-the-scenes celebration of memorable Christmas episodes and the animals that have appeared in the series’ holiday stories.
    Airs Sunday, November 29 at 8:00 pm.
  • All Creatures Great and Small: Cheers to The Years – Celebrate five seasons of the beloved series with cast members as they revisit memorable characters, relationships, triumphs, and heartfelt moments.
    Airs Monday, November 30 at 5:30 pm.
Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas

Mary Berry shares her ultimate Christmas feast with all the trimmings.

🎄 Holiday & Seasonal Favorites

Bring a little festive spirit to the season with a special holiday cooking program.

  • Mary Berry's Ultimate Christmas – Join Mary Berry and three special guests as they prepare a festive feast, from a traditional turkey to classic Christmas pudding.
    Airs Saturday, November 28 at 9:00 pm.
Johnny Mathis: Wonderful, Wonderful! | Preview

Recorded at The Tropicana in Atlantic City on October 27, 2006 in celebration of his 50 years in show business, JOHNNY MATHIS: WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! features Johnny performing many of his hits including "In the Morning", "Wonderful! Wonderful!", "What I Did For Love", "Chances Are", "Misty", "Maria", Stranger in Paradise", and "A Certain Smile."

🎵 Music & Performance

Enjoy memorable concerts and classical music presented with visual artistry.

  • Johnny Mathis - Wonderful, Wonderful! – Celebrate Johnny Mathis’ remarkable career with a concert featuring his beloved standards and unforgettable hits.
    Airs Monday, November 30 at 8:00 pm.
  • Barry Bostwick Presents Classical Rewind – Experience classical music paired with visual interpretations of nature, fantasy, historic locations, architecture, and art.
    Airs Monday, November 30 at 9:30 pm.