Pediatric Ward Christmas Reading (1982)
Pediatric Ward Christmas Reading (2000)
There are a variety of holidays and other special events that are celebrated on General Hospital.
Holidays[]
Valentine's Day[]
On Valentine's Day 2021, Ava Jerome was sent a cockroach by a stalker later revealed to be Spencer Cassadine and his villainous ex-girlfriend, Esme Prince, who manipulated the scheme.
On Valentine's Day 2022, Port Charles ran on an unofficial theme of "love stinks", due to all the losses in the last year.
On Valentine's Day 2025, PC High hosted a "Valentine's Day Skate" party, attended by the town teenagers, including Rocco Falconeri and Aiden Webber.
Fourth of July[]
Citizens enjoy watching the fireworks in Rice Park. The Quartermaine family frequently partakes in a Fourth of July picnic as well.
Halloween[]
Maxie Jones was born on Halloween 1990.
During Halloween 2012, A.J. Quartermaine, who was presumed deceased, made an unexpected appearance in Port Charles while disguised in a monster mask, crashing a Halloween celebration at the Haunted Star.
During a Halloween party in 2015 on The Haunted Star, Dillon Quartermaine's intern Andy Plummer accidentally aired footage of Dante Falconeri and Valerie Spencer admitting to an affair.
On Halloween 2018, Ryan Chamberlain killed Mary Pat Ingles by stabbing her to death and then decapitated her before placing her head in a barrel of apples for Carly Spencer to find. The rest of the corpse was placed in Ava Jerome's gallery.
In 2022, a Halloween Festival with a Haunted House takes place in Rice Plaza and is sponsored by the Metro Court Hotel.
Thanksgiving[]
The Quartermaine family has been ordering pizza since 1994 after disasters prevent them from eating turkey.
See: Quartermaine Thanksgiving Disasters
Christmas[]
Christmas miracles occasionally happen at this time. Steve Hardy began a tradition of reading the Christmas Story for pediatric patients at General Hospital, a tradition he continued until his death in 1996. Alan Quartermaine then took over until his death in 2007.
- "Santa Claus Comes to Town" - In December 2008, Santa Claus sought the assistance of Damian Spinelli and Maxie Jones in delivering special gifts to the people of Port Charles.
- "A "Finn" Christmas Carol" - In December 2019, a GH version of A Christmas Carol with Hamilton Finn as Ebenezer Scrooge was shown.
- In December 2022, the Community Decoration Project helps decorate Rice Plaza for Christmas.
- The same month, the Gingerbread Jam concert takes place at Rice Plaza where "Chase and Blaze" sing and an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is judged.
- The Quartermaines have hosted several Christmas Parties over the years with the last one mentioned in December 2024.
New Year's Eve[]
- On New Year's Eve 2015, Leo Falconeri was conceived just after midnight at the Metro Court Hotel. Julian Jerome and Olivia Falconeri kissed at midnight because they were alone and ended up in bed together.
- On New Years' Eve 2022, knowing she has a fatal illness and her NYE birthday has never been celebrated, Britt Westbourne throws "Britch Fest" on The Haunted Star to say goodbye before she leaves town.
- At "Britch Fest", Spencer Cassadine and Trina Robinson start "dating," growing closer and more romantic. On her way to the party, Josslyn Jacks is attacked by The Hook serial killer.
- At Wyndemere Castle, Esme Prince, having been held captive by her unborn baby's father, Nikolas Cassadine, manages to escape by setting a fire. Nikolas chases after her to the parapet, and taking the chance she'll survive a second time, Esme jumps.
Special Events[]
Anniversaries[]
- "A Day of New Beginnings" (April 1, 1993): To mark his 30th anniversary at the hospital and the show's 30th anniversary, Steve Hardy is greeted by his very first patient at GH, Angie Costello, who thanks him for his support all those years ago.
- "What a Crappy Anniversary" (August 15, 1997): A special episode focusing exclusively on the Quartermaine family. It featured the wedding anniversary of the long-time supercouple Alan and Monica Quartermaine.
- "Celebrating Audrey Hardy" (April 17, 2002): Audrey Hardy's 10,000th day working at GH is celebrated to mark the 10,000th episode of the show. Many flashbacks were featured as well.
- "My Rock of Gibraltar" (April 2, 2013): For the 50th anniversary, ghosts of Emily Quartermaine, Alan Quartermaine, and Rick Webber appeared. Audrey Hardy also returns for what would have been Steve Hardy's 50th Anniversary at GH.
- "Sonny with 3 Carlys" (April 1, 2014): For the 51st anniversary, Sonny Corinthos talked to three actresses who portrayed Carly Spencer (three versions of Carly) in the General Hospital Chapel.
- "Spencer Family Secrets" (April 1, 2015 & July 23, 2015): For the 52nd anniversary, Luke Spencer flashed back to his childhood on April 1, 1963 when he accidentally killed his parents.
- "A Night of Nostalgia" (March 30, 2018): For the 55th anniversary, flashbacks are contrasted against Mike Corbin's battle with Alzheimer's disease and how that most horrific of diseases robs the people we love of all their memories and relationships.
- "The Original Blueprints" (April 2, 2019): For the 56th anniversary, a special episode was dedicated to bidding farewell to the former longtime character Dr. Gail Baldwin.
- "The Friends of Laura Collins" (June 17, 2022): The 15,000th episode focused on Laura Collins and featuring the majority of GH's current characters.
- On April 1, 2023, the show celebrated its 60th anniversary. ABC released promotional photos and People Magazine released both a "Collector's Edition" issue and an anniversary cast photo.
- "Dedication to Monica Quartermaine" (April 1, 2025): For the 62nd anniversary, this special episode highlights the inauguration of the new cardiac wing at GH, dedicated to the beloved character Dr. Monica Quartermaine.
Birthdays[]
- In July 2021 during Wiley Corinthos' third birthday, Harrison Chase finds out his wife Willow Tait is cheating on him with Michael Corinthos.
- Britt Westbourne throws "Britch Fest" for her NYE birthday on The Haunted Star to say goodbye before she leaves town.
Crossovers[]
- "Baby Switch (Danny/Victor)" (June 2012-September 2012): This plot involved a baby switch between Danny Morgan and Victor Lord III which led to the crossover of various characters from the now-defunct soap opera One Life to Live into General Hospital.
- "Port Charles Revisited" (January-March 2013): A continuation tribute of the spinoff storyline, where several former characters made their return to the origin soap to conclude the vampire storyline.
In-Universe Events[]
- The Floating Rib occasionally had karaoke nights. In September 2019, they had a Drag Bingo night.
- In December 2015, GH had a Nutcracker Gala as a fundraiser for Toys for Tots.
- In 2021, Charlie's Pub has Trivia Nights; and karaoke nights in 2024.
- On May 13, 2022, Port Charles Elementary has a fair at Rice Plaza.
- Nearly every springtime, the citizens of Port Charles put on an annual Nurses' Ball charity and talent show. Founded in 1994, it raises awareness and funds for HIV and AIDS research.
- In August 2022, Port Charles had the First Annual Quartermaine Picnic to support the GH Children's Wing. At the time, Ava is stabbed in the stomach with a hook that someone took from the boathouse - starting the serial killers reign of terror.
- In July 2023, it is mentioned the Second Annual Quartermaine Picnic is coming soon. It happens offscreen.
- In 2024, it is mentioned that Port Charles University has a Summer Festival which Giovanni Palmieri plans to play his violin in.
The Nurses' Ball[]
A major annual fundraising event showcasing the talents of the citizens of Port Charles.
See: The Nurses' Ball
Standalones[]
- "Twist of Fate" (12/14/1996): This special primetime episode featured Luke Spencer, who staged the deaths of Lesley Webber, and Laura Spencer, in order to prevent Stefan Cassadine, from searching for them.
- "One Night at Flynn's Club" (12/31/2002): After finding a walled-off nightclub under Kelly's, Carly Spencer visits the elderly Catherine Flynn who remembers the one disastrous night - New Year's Eve 1926 - that her speakeasy was open and the crimes that caused its closure.
- "Fan February" (02/26/2003): A special episode during the month to honor their fans. In it, Sonny Corinthos arrives in the Afterlife, where Luke Spencer assists him in a series of tests to review his past choices and understand their consequences.
- "Fresh Off the Bumpkin" (12/31/2003): A special stand-alone episode showcasing a dream experienced by Dillon Quartermaine, presented in black and white to mimic the aesthetic of a traditional silent film.
- "What If B.J. Had Lived?" (02/24/2009): Maxie Jones envisions an alternate reality in which she died in 1994, thereby enabling B.J. Jones to continue living.
- "What If..." webisodes (2010): 10 short online episodes that explored what it might be like if various characters from General Hospital, One Life to Live, and All My Children met one another. These were set on either an elevator or plane, and are outside the in-verse continuity.
- "Who Will Jason Be?" (8/26 & 29/11): The women in Jason Morgan's life (Monica, Elizabeth, Carly, and Sam) fantasize what-if Jason was who they wanted him to be, while he's in surgery from a car accident.
- "Life VS Tracy" (04/08/2017): Tracy Quartermaine is put on trial for all her past misdeeds.
- "All About Ava" (01/17/2018): Ava Jerome has a nightmare as she is about to have her face repaired.
- "Vote" (11/02/2020): Josslyn Jacks and Trina Robinson go back 100 years and learn about Port Charles' voting history.
- "What If Sonny..." (11/12/2018): In recognition of Maurice Benard's 25th anniversary portraying Sonny Corinthos, he envisions an alternate reality in which Sonny had not entered a life of crime associated with the Corinthos mob family.
- "Fighter, Idealist, Advocate" (04/08/2021): In recognition of Nancy Lee Grahn's 25 years with the series, this special episode portrayed Alexis Davis, reflecting on the impact of her past on her mental state the day prior to her admission to Pentonville Penitentiary. During this time, she also engages with her family, the Cassadines.
Behind the Scenes[]
- "The Decades of GH" (April 1998): This hour-long primetime special, hosted by Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer), featured past clips and current interviews with current and former castmates.
- "Facebook Live Holiday Concert" (12/04/2019): Select cast members participate in holiday concert - a one of a kind experience that streamed on Facebook, live from the set of #GH.
- "60 Years of Stars & Storytelling" (01/04/2024): Primetime special about the ABC soap opera General Hospital.
