Catch Alice’s Restaurant on the 2023 radio dial. See our latest listening guide.
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and for radio fanatics like myself, that means another year tracking the radio stations that play Arlo Guthrie’s seasonally appropriate “Alice’s Restaurant.” Especially with the strangeness of the last few years in light of COVID, nostalgia is likely a big reason that listeners seek out the radio to hear a familiar tune in times of stress. It might be something that reminds one of the past, whether remembering “Alice’s Restaurant” from back in the 60s or 70s or tapping into memories from Thanksgiving preparations or celebrations at relatives’ homes more recently.
I’ve been documenting this radio ritual for many many years and was pleased to be able to speak to THE Alice in 2020 as part of our lead up to the muted 2020 holiday season. Be sure to listen to our Radio Survivor podcast conversation with Alice Brock, as it provides perspective on how Guthrie’s song came to be and why it has resonated with so many people.
“Alice’s Restaurant” has been an on-air tradition for decades, with fans calling up stations to confirm that it will be airing again each year. Doing my research for this year’s list, I was struck by a post from one DJ who was saddened to not be presenting the song on the radio after more than 40 consecutive years, largely due to scheduling challenges with the broadcast of a football game. Earlier this week, longtime WCMF host Dave Kane-O wrote on Facebook,
..I have received MANY an inquiry about bringing you to Alice’s Restaurant this year. I am humbled & flattered to no end, & I sincerely thank you. Alas, it does not look good for a broadcast this year, and I am sorry about that…Sooooooo, at the very least, I will post my personal greeting to you here on my Kane O FB page on Thursday about 12 Noon, and provide a link to listen to ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ for your enjoyment. I KNOW it’s not the same (what is anymore?!), and I was really hoping to be able to host it for the 42nd year in a row, but…nothing is forever. Except my sincere, ever-lovin’ appreciation for ALLA Y’all! So, you’ll have the ‘basic ingredients’ for our Thanksgiving tradition, just not in the same way you’re used to…
The P.S. to this story, is that DJ Dave Kane-O will be playing “Alice’s Restaurant” over Facebook Live instead. So, his WCMF and WRUR fans can tune in at 9am to continue their Thanksgiving listening tradition with their favorite DJ.
Here’s wishing you a wonderful 2022 Thanksgiving celebration! If you are eager to tune in to a radio station to hear “Alice’s Restaurant” this year, take a look at the following options. As always, this is an incomplete list.
Alice’s Restaurant on the Radio on Thanksgiving Day 2022 – November 24, 2022
Last updated on November 24, 2022. Note that all times are local to the area in which the station is located.
Terrestrial and Online Radio:
101 The Fox (Kansas City, Kansas) will air “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon and 6pm on Thanksgiving.
KPIG 107.5FM and KPYG 94.9 FM Cayucos/SLO (Freedom, California) will play the full version of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” at 9:00am, noon, 4:00pm, and again at 9:00pm on Thanksgiving.
94HJY (Providence, Rhode Island) writes, “…we’ll be playing Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” as we have for the last million or so years.” Airs at noon on Thanksgiving.
Backland Radio (online) writes “Hear Arlo’s Alice’s Restaurant at 8am, noon, 5pm and 9pm CST Thanksgiving on The Whip at backlandradio.com!”
WDRC 102.9 The Whale (Hartford, Connecticut) will play Alice’s Restaurant in its entirety at 6am, Noon and 6p on Thanksgiving.
107.1 The Peak (Port Chester, New York) will be airing its “18th Annual Unplucked Thanksgiving. Complete with TWO helpings of Arlo Guthrie’s ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ at noon and 6pm. Listen online at 1071ThePeak.com , on your smart phone via The Peak app or TuneIn Radio, and at home on your smart devices.”
94.7 FM KSHE-95 (St. Louis, Missouri) writes, “After you fill up with family and friends today, tune in at Noon for another Thanksgiving tradition, Alice’s Restaurant & Adam Sandler’s Thanksgiving Song.”
WBLM 102.9 FM (Portland, Maine) will play “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon on Thanksgiving.
102.9 WMGK (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) writes, “Paul Kelly will spin ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ at 8am on Thursday, and Danny Ocean will play it again at 1pm and 4pm.” The station adds, ‘MGK program director Bill Weston says the song has played on the airwaves “as long as anyone can remember’ on Thanksgiving day. He recalls something that started as somewhat of a stretch because of the lack of music easily associated with Thanksgiving but ultimately became a widespread radio tradition.”
WFIT 89.5 FM (Melbourne, Florida) will air a special edition of FM Odyssey from 10am to 1pm, which will include “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon, with an introduction by the real Alice. FM Odyssey writes, “We have plenty of side dishes as well, like the Thanksgiving concert classic, ‘The Last Waltz”‘ from the Band, and John Lennon’s surprise appearance at Elton’s Madison Square Garden concert on Thanksgiving night, November 21st, 1974 (the night he and Yoko got back together!). Visual songs about November, tunes about traveling as many have done for this holiday.”
Cruisin’ 92.9 FM (Lansing, Michigan) will play “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon on Thanksgiving.
MVY Radio (88.7 FM West Tisbury, Massachusetts) reports on Facebook, “The tradition continues! We will be playing Arlo Guthrie’s ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ on Thanksgiving Day at noon.”
WGBG Big 107.7 FM (Delmarva, Maryland) writes, “A Thanksgiving Tradition! Thursday at noon gather the family around the radio for Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” on Big 107.7 and worldwide at Bigclassicrock.com.”
WYMG 100.5 FM (Springfield, Illinois) writes, “WYMG’s Thanksgiving Day Tradition continues. Hear Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”, in it’s entirety, 12 noon on Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving from Lynch, Amy Nelson, Sonja, Big Steve, and ALL of us at 100.5 WYMG!!”
92 KQRS (Minneapolis, Minnesota) reports of this year’s “Alice’s Restaurant” tradition: “You have three opportunities to hear it this year: Tune in at 9am, 12pm and 7pm on Thanksgiving Day!”
KRYZ 98.5 LPFM Mariposa Community Radio (Mariposa, California) reports: “As is our Thanksgiving Day tradition, we will be playing Arlo Guthries Alice’s Restaurant at 2 pm PST on 11-24-22. Tune in for a hilarious Thanksgiving journey with Arlo Guthrie and the Man right here on KRYZ-LPFM 98.5 and www.KRYZRadio.org.“
WCSX 94.7 FM (Detroit, Michigan) writes on Facebook: “”You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant.” Listen to WCSX Thanksgiving Day: 10am and 4pm to hear this classic rock tradition.”
WMMR 93.3 FM (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) airs Pierre Robert’s “Welcome Home” Thanksgiving Day show from 10am to 3pm on Thanksgiving Day. He writes, “I’ll be taking requests, dedications and holiday wishes for the MMR family coming together on Thanksgiving Day. And yes, I’ll serve up the traditional Alice’s Restaurant at 10am, noon and a Pierre’s vinyl cut version at 2pm.”
WXPN 88.5 FM (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) will be airing a special schedule on Thanksgiving, including Mike V presenting the station’s annual airing of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” at 12 noon.
KINK 101.9 FM (Portland, OR): Per its website, “Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant has been a KINK Thanksgiving tradition for more than 40 years. Tune in at noon Thanksgiving Day (November 24th) for a full helping.”
WEZX Rock 107 (Scranton, Pennsylvania) will play “Alice’s Restaurant” four times on Thanksgiving Day. They write, “As you gather with your family to carve the bird, we bring you the Thanksgiving tradition of Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant. Based on a true story in Arlo’s life with a run-in with the law on Thanksgiving Day back in 1965, Alice’s Restaurant has become a timeless tradition. Tune in Thanksgiving Day at 9am, noon, 3pm and 6pm You can get anything you want at Rock 107.”
WTHS 89.9 FM Hope College Radio (Holland, Michigan) shares on Twitter, “Twitter may be going up in flames, but WTHS remains steady in tradition of playing Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon on Thanksgiving Day. Tune in!”
107.5 The Breeze (Portsmouth, Ohio) tweeted on Wednesday, 11/23 about its Thanksgiving Day airing: “Join us tomorrow at 9:00am, Noon & 5pm for a Holiday Classic: ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ by Arlo Guthrie. Follow along as the story unfolds on Thanksgiving Day-Based on true, but slightly exaggerated events. Brought to you by Preston Family Funeral Home on Rt. 5 in Ashland.”
WRHQ 105.3 FM (Savannah, Georgia) writes on its website, “Tradition! That’s what Alice’s Restaurant is on the Q and you’ll hear it three times Thanksgiving Day…. 9:30 in the morning, 12:30 in the afternoon
and 6:30 in the evening presented by O.C. Welch Ford Lincoln in Hardeeville.”
KOZT 95.3 FM/95.9 FM The Coast (Ft. Bragg, CA) will play “Alice’s Restaurant” at 12 noon on Thanksgiving.
WDVX 89.9 FM in Knoxville, Tennessee is playing “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon on Thanksgiving.
Wyoming Public Radio is playing “Alice’s Restaurant” at 11am during the Wyoming Sounds Thanksgiving Special (9am-noon) with host Grady Kirkpatrick. Program will include roots music, Native American, and Wyoming artists along with the Arlo Guthrie Thanksgiving classic Alice’s Restaurant beginning at 11am.
WDRV 97.1 FM The Drive (Chicago, IL) will play “Alice’s Restaurant” at 9am and 3pm, along with other special Thanksgiving programming. I love that they are featuring “drum sticks” in honor of Thanksgiving. From noon to 1pm the station airs “The Drive Drumstick Feast,” which they describe as “an hour of the greatest classic rock drummers of all time.”
WNCW 88.7 FM (Spindale, NC) writes, “Your WNCW family has a seat at the table for you, with songs of food & gratitude all day long this Thursday. In one of our favorite annual traditions, Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” from 1967 will be served up just past Noon.”
WUMB 91.9 FM (Boston, MA and environs) writes, “Join us for a Thanksgiving tradition as we’ll play Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant multiple times on Thanksgiving Day. You can tune in to hear it in 9am, 12pm, 3pm, and 7pm hours as our Artist of the Day feature. Happy Thanksgiving!”
KSER 90.7 FM (Everett, Washington) will play it annual broadcast of “Alice’s Restaurant” at 2pm on Thanksgiving Day.
99.1 PLR (New Haven, CT) writes: “A PLR Thanksgiving Day Tradition! As you enjoy all that turkey and pie, tune in for Arlo Guthrie’s ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ in its entirety at 6am, 12 noon and 6pm! Enjoy!”
Space 101.1 FM (Seattle, Washington): is playing “Alice’s Restaurant” at noon.
WBJB Brookdale Public Radio 90.5 The Night (Lincroft, New Jersey): Got a report that “Every year the original version airs at 12 noon. And this year there’s a ‘Second Helping’ at 6pm with the ’50th Anniversary’ version.”
