
Fall is in full swing on WNMU-TV this October! Explore stories from Michigan and the Great Lakes, continue celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, discover new dramas and documentaries, and enjoy plenty of fall and Halloween-themed programming. Plus, look for local favorites like Great Getaways and Great Lakes Now throughout the month.

🎥 Local Programming
Michigan 38th Senate District Forum: Prestin (R), van Ginhoven (D), Cambensy (I) debate key issues.
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. Throughout October, Media Meet will feature local election candidate forums. Visit wnmutv.nmu.edu/community/election-26/ to watch the forums and learn more.
Airs Saturdays at 6 PM (October 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31). Repeats Sundays at 2 PM
Ask The Experts
Area experts answer questions submitted by viewers by phone or email.
- DNR – Thursday, October 1 at 8 PM (Repeats Oct. 2 at 3 PM)
- Doctors: Women's Health – Thursday, October 8 at 8 PM (Repeats Oct. 9 at 3 PM)
- Lawyers – Thursday, October 15 at 8 PM (Repeats Oct. 16 at 3 PM)
- Doctors: Cancer: All Types – Thursday, October 22 at 8 PM (Repeats Oct. 23 at 3 PM)
- Lawyers: Elder Law – Thursday, October 29 at 8 PM (Repeats Oct. 30 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
- Road Trip in The U.P. – Iravel the back roads of the Upper Peninsula in search of beautiful lakes, streams and waterfalls.
Airs Airs Thursday, October 1 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, October 2 at 5 PM and Saturday, October 3 at 4:30 PM. - A Fall Fantastic – Join Tom as he kayaks down the Tahquamenon River, discovers a long-abandoned cemetery at Whitefish Point along with a stop at the only cranberry farm in Michigan.
Airs Airs Thursday, October 8 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, October 9 at 5 PM and Saturday, October 10 at 4:30 PM. - Fun Times on The Hiawatha – We enjoy the Hiawatha National Forest so much that today we are going to bring you some of the highlights of our trips.
Airs Thursday, October 29 at 10 PM. Repeats Friday, October 30 at 5 PM and Saturday, October 31 at 4:30 PM.
Great Lakes Now Series
- The Fitzgerald's Legacy and The Power of Tugs – In the 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, there hasn’t been another major shipwreck on the Great Lakes. We explore what changed after the Fitzgerald went down.
Airs Thursday, October 8 at 10:30 PM.
PBS Highlights
An American road trip that unveils the unspoken perspectives at our nation's monuments.
🇺🇸 America 250
General Dodge and The Transcontinental Railroad – Meet Civil War leader Grenville Dodge, who built the Union Pacific Railroad to unite America. Airs Saturday, October 3 at 8:00pm.
- Monumental Myths – Travel across America in a 1965 Airstream trailer and discover America's historic sites.
Airs Sunday, October 4 at 3:00 pm. - Declarations: Black Americans and The Revolutionary War – This documentary follows the stories of Black Americans after the Revolutionary War.
Airs Saturday, October 10 at 8:00 pm. Repeats Monday, October 19 at 10:00 pm. - Voyage of Adventure: Retracing Donelson's Journey – Photographer John Guider sets out to retrace a historic expedition that took place between 1779-1780.
Airs Saturday, October 17 at 8:00 pm. Repeats Monday, October 19 at 3:00 pm. - Life in The Heart Land: an America 250 Special – Discover how communities work together to find common ground for America's 250th celebration.
Airs Friday, October 23 at 11:30 pm. - Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and World War II – Examine Bob Hope and his troupe of performers' impact on World War II.
Airs Sunday, October 25 at 7:00 pm. - Independent Lens: Seeds– It's the visual and cultural exploration of centennial farmers in the southern U.S.
Airs Monday, October 26 at 10:00pm.
Meet the groundbreaking Chicano collective that made the streets a canvas for art and resistance.
🎭 Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with programs highlighting Latino voices, artists, history, and culture.
- 39th Hispanic Heritage Awards – Celebrate Latino culture with the Hispanic Heritage Awards and top Latin music stars!
Airs Friday, October 2 at 9:00 pm. - Voces - Asco: Without Permission– Challenge the limits of conventions with the story of a revolutionary Chicano art group.
Airs Friday, October 2 at 10:00 pm. - American Masters: American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez – Follow the legacy of Luis Valdez. Valdez is a founding figure of the Chicano Movement.
Airs Tuesday, October 6 at 9:00 pm. - Voces - Paquito D'rivera: From Carne Y Frijol to Carnegie Hall – Follow the extraordinary journey of Paquito D'Rivera from child prodigy to Grammy winner.
Airs Monday, October 12 at 10:00 pm. - Hemingway in Cuba – An in-depth look at how Cuban culture, its religion, lifestyle and even its volatile politics influenced this great American author.
Airs Sunday, October 18 at 7:00 pm.
Deconstruct some of the most significant moments in zombie popular culture.
🎃 Halloween
Get into the Halloween spirit with spooky stories, classic favorites, and special programming for the whole family.
- Arthur and The Haunted Tree House – Arthur, Buster and Ladonna have a treehouse sleepover that seems to be haunted! But by what?
Airs Monday, October 26 at 10:30 am. Repeats Thursday, October 29 at 12:00 pm. - Wild Kratts: Creepy Creatures – The Wild Kratts must defeat Zach and other villains who have come up with a plan to ruin Halloween.
Airs Tuesday, October 27 at 11:30am. Repeats Wednesday, October 28 at 1:00pm. - The World According to Polka - Halloween Spook-tacular – Jake Kouwe takes you on a delightful jaunt into your favorite spooky season.
Airs Friday, October 30 at 9:00 pm. - Exhumed: A History of Zombies – The most significant moments in zombie popular culture over the last two centuries are detailed.
Airs Friday, October 30 at 9:30 pm. - Werewolf of The Bayou: Theater of The Mind – A newspaper reporter heads to the Louisiana swamps to investigate several strange murders in 1940.
Airs Friday, October 30 at 10:30 pm. - Call of The Mummy: Theater of The Mind– In 1941, ace reporter Margo Mason investigates missing mummies and murder in this radio play drama.
Airs Friday, October 30 at 11:30 pm. - Things That Go Bump in The Night: Tales of Haunted New England – New England's most bone-chilling tales of the supernatural and unexplained mysteries are revealed.
Airs Saturday, October 31 at 8:00 pm. - Midnight Tales in Shadow Wood: Theater of The Mind – A radio play drama focuses on frightening tales of urban legends and their mysterious spirits.
Airs Saturday, October 31 at 9:00 pm. - Good Little Girl, Goodnight: Theater of The Mind – Take an old house, a mysterious little girl, and some dark secrets for this series of tales.
Airs Saturday, October 31 at 10:00 pm. - Invisible Man: Theatre of The Mind – The classic story "The Invisible Man" is presented in the style of a 1940's radio play.
Airs Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 pm.
Iurii Samoilov sings an excerpt from the title character’s Act III arioso.
🎵 Performance & Arts
Experience performances ranging from ballet and classical music to contemporary artists and live concerts.
- Great Performances at The Met: Eugene Onegin – Asmik Grigorian returns to the Met as Tatiana alongside Igor Golovatenko's tragic Onegin.
Airs Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 am. - Great Musicians of Our Time: Pinchas Zukerman: Here to Make Music – Follow Pinchas Zukerman's remarkable journey from rising star to celebrated musical master.
Airs Friday, October 16 at 10:00 pm. - Great Performances: Tammy Wynette: Forever Yours – Artists are coming together to celebrate Tammy Wynette's life and music.
Airs Friday, October 23 at 9:00 pm.
Join Elmo and the Sesame Street gang on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari adventure.
🌿 Nature & Environment
Explore the natural world, environmental challenges, and the science shaping our future.
- Rising Wings – From carvers to conservationists, it reveals how a rich heritage of craft, stewardship, and passion continues to shape the bond between people and the wild wings they cherish.
Airs Sunday, October 4 at 7:00 pm. - Nature: Sesame Street and The Great Elephant Adventure – Join Elmo and the Sesame Street gang on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari. Airs Wednesday, October 14 at 8:00 pm. Repeats Tuesday, October 20 at 8:30 am, and Wednesday, October 21 at 11:00 am.
A conversation about how America's founding principles remain relevant to governance today.
🗳️ Election & Civics
Stay informed about elections and civic life with candidate forums, public affairs programming, and stories that explore the issues shaping our communities.
- A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversation – Ken Burns, Jeffrey Rosen and others discuss essential themes of liberty, equality and democracy.
Airs Sunday, October 11 at 7:00 pm. - The Young Vote – This documentary follows a diverse group of students and activists during the 2020 election.
Airs Saturday, October 24 at 8:00 pm. Repeats Monday, October 26 at 3:00 pm. - Breaking The Deadlock: AI: Who's in Control? – Aaron Tang guides some prominent voices through complex hypothetical scenarios.
Airs Tuesday, October 27 at 9:00 pm. - In Pursuit: Lessons of American Leadership – The Retro Report brings leadership lessons learned from presidents and first ladies to life.
Airs Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 pm.
Season 2 premieres on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 9/8c.
🆕 New Drama
Discover new drama programs and series coming to WNMU-TV this October.
- Professor T (UK), Season 5– Jasper and Helena test their new romance while Dan wonders if he can love again.
Airs Sundays at 8:00 pm, beginning October 18. - Maigret on Masterpiece, Season 2 – Maigret investigates a young woman's death, crossing paths with those hiding the truth.
Airs Sundays at 9:00 pm beginning October 18. - Gold on Masterpiece, Season 2– Where is the missing half of the Brink's-Mat gold?
Airs Sundays at 10:00 pm, beginning October 18.
