For many Arkansans, the holidays aren’t complete without the familiar sounds of fiddles, guitars and voices raised in harmony. “Ozark Mountain Christmas” captures that feeling perfectly – a snapshot of Ozark culture, community and music at its most heartfelt.
Originally broadcast in 1991 at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, the Arkansas TV original “Ozark Mountain Christmas,” emceed by Dave Smith, wraps those feelings up like a much-anticipated present on Christmas morning, and is waiting to be unwrapped and enjoyed by a log on the fire and the tree shining bright. “Ozark Mountain Christmas” airs Thursday, Dec. 25, at 7 p.m., as part of our “From the Archives” series. You can also watch on demand at myarpbs.org/youtube.
Trying Something New
When the program was recorded in 1991, Smith was relatively new to emceeing at the Ozark Folk Center, despite having already spent nearly a decade performing there, both as a solo musician and as part of the band Harmony. Being asked to announce a show that was being taped for television was, by his own admission, intimidating.
“I was somewhat terrified,” Smith recalled. Looking back now, though, the nerves have faded into fond reflection. “It’s interesting to see myself back when I had hair!” he joked.
Today, Smith is the host of Ozark Highlands Radio and is no stranger to guiding audiences through music, but emceeing a live, televised holiday celebration came with its own pressures. Radio, he noted, allows for second chances. Live shows do not.
“The worst part of introducing people on stage is remembering their names,” Smith admitted. Forgetting the name of someone you know – in front of a live audience – is every emcee’s nightmare.
A Flood of Memories
Watching the program today brings back a flood of memories for Smith — not just of the performances, but of the people. Smith especially cherishes seeing musicians who have since passed on, like Jean Jennings with The Leatherwoods and Moon Mullins with the Lonesome Cowboys. Those moments serve as a living archive of Ozark music history.
One song, in particular, stands out to Smith, even though viewers never got to see it. Harmony performed John McCutcheon’s Christmas in the Trenches, a powerful song about the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I. Smith believes the performance may have been cut due to its anti-war message during the height of Gulf War–era patriotism. Still, the song remains one of his favorite Christmas pieces – a reminder that folk music often carries deeper stories beneath its melodies.
Harmony itself had an impressive run, traveling and playing together for 35 years. While health challenges have slowed the group in recent years, the bond remains. “We still enjoy singing together,” Smith said, underscoring the enduring connection that music creates.
The Changing of Times
When it comes to reflecting the spirit of the Ozarks, “Ozark Mountain Christmas” captures something that’s harder to define now than it was then. Smith noted that the Ozark Folk Center has undergone significant changes since those days. Following the COVID shutdown in 2020, the regular nighttime programs were discontinued, and with them went the routine gatherings of local musicians.
Those gatherings, Smith explained, were central to the culture. Working with the musicians featured on the show felt less like a job and more like a family reunion. “Every time we went there, it was like Old Home Week,” he said. Long after the evening programs ended, musicians would gather in practice rooms for jam sessions – often staying until staff had to usher them out.
Authenticity at the Holidays
What ultimately makes Ozark music resonate, especially during the holidays, is its authenticity. There are no flashy costumes or elaborate stage antics. It’s music played by real people, the same kind of songs that have echoed through parlors, living rooms, and front porches for generations.
That authenticity is what gives “Ozark Mountain Christmas” its lasting warmth — a reminder of a time when music brought people together not just as performers and audiences, but as neighbors, friends, and family.
How to Watch
“Ozark Mountain Christmas” airs Thursday, Dec. 25, at 7 p.m., as part of the “From the Archives” series.
How to Watch on Demand
“Ozark Mountain Christmas” is available on demand at myarpbs.org/youtube.