How to watch the Parks and Rec special reunion for free and on Hulu

Parks and Rec Special how to watch
(Image credit: Tyler Golden/NBC)

Pour a shot of Snake Juice: A Parks and Rec Special is here! Announced last week, the Pawnee gang is getting back together ... but we're not at the Parks & Rec. department anymore, Gerry.

And even if you didn't watch live, you can catch the special episode — which is both really funny and heartwarming — online. Star Amy Poehler spoke the news into the world in a tweet, and she and Nick Offerman have already given us a little sample of the upcoming episode, in a video embedded below. 

Yes, as we all stay socially distanced from each other, to stop the spread of COVID-19, a kind-of trustworthy government office is reopening. Fortunately, this isn't happening on March 31 (sorry April, we remember everything).

parks & rec special release date channel

The Parks & Recreation reunion special aired Thursday, April 30 on NBC. It's now widely available for streaming, including an embedded video below.

Much like the NFL Draft 2020 and the SNL At Home special, the Parks & Rec Reunion will likely have a lot less visual pizazz than what we're used to. Hopefully the cast has actual cameras or webcams, and isn't relying on the built in webcams in their laptops. 

Because they're all filming from home, this will set up some weird obstacles for the show to write around. Why are Ben and Leslie, and April and Andy not in the same home? Also, I'm going to need to hear Chris Traeger talk about how his body is a microchip, and how COVID-19 is a virus.

We got our first look at what the special will look like, with this clip of Leslie Knope asking Ron Swanson how he's doing. While this clip feels a little dry, I'd bet the actual show itself will be less formulaic:

The special will raise money for the hunger-relief charity Feeding America, and is sponsored by State Farm. 

How to watch the Parks and Rec special with a VPN

You don't need to miss the Parks & Rec reunion just because you're out of the country. Yes, if you're away from home, geo-fenced restrictions might block you from accessing the service you already pay for, but with the help of a virtual private network (VPN), you don't have to get hit with regrets on par with every night Ron Swanson spent with Tammy 2. 

Our pick for the best VPN is ExpressVPN. It meets all the VPN needs and is easy to use and delivers fast internet speeds, making it simple to set up for streaming in no time at all. It also works on practically any device, starting with iOS and Android and including streaming devices such as the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Apple TV. Plus, game consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

ExpressVPN

Our favorite VPN service, <a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Ftomsguide%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree%26a_fid%3D744" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressVPN, is a top choice for anyone who wants to watch the Parks & Rec reunion. It's got a solid mix of safety, speed and ease-of-use. Plus, you get an extra 3 months free if you sign up for a year. And if you've never used a VPN before and are curious and not sure, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee if you just want to give it a try.

How to watch the Parks and Recreation special for free

On both NBC.com and YouTube, you can watch A Parks and Recreation Special for free online right now. You don't even have to leave this page! 

How to watch the Parks & Rec reunion in the US 

In the U.S., you can watch A Parks and Recreation Special on Hulu, which has the very special episode available as video on demand content:

Hulu.

The Parks and Recreation special is just one of many great shows and movies streaming on <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X1584493&xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fseries%2Fa-parks-and-recreation-special-1183477e-f436-48fd-8ec2-59e7bf26f2b5&sref" data-link-merchant="SkimLinks - hulu.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hulu. In addition to next-day airings of current TV shows and library content from FX, Hulu offers award-winning series like The Handmaid's Tale. Other originals include Little Fires Everywhere, High Fidelity, Shrill, PEN15, Casual and Ramy.

How to watch Parks & Rec reunion in the UK

Bad news for everyone in the UK: the Parks & Rec reunion doesn't appear to have a United Kingdom availability. Americans stuck in the UK right now can check above to see how to use a VPN to watch the Parks and Recreation reunion special using a service they already pay for.

How to watch Parks & Rec reunion in Canada

Similarly, Canadians have no way to watch NBC. So, Americans who are visiting the great white north should probably look to a VPN to see the Parks & Rec special with the rest of us. 

How to watch old Parks and Rec episodes

Netflix has the entirety of Parks and Recreation, but Peacock will be getting the series in July. No word if that means Netflix loses the show, but it's a strong possibility.

Parks & Rec reunion cast

  • Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope
  • Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins
  • Aziz Ansari as Tom Haverford
  • Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson
  • Aubrey Plaza as April Ludgate
  • Chris Pratt as Andy Dwyer
  • Adam Scott as Ben Wyatt
  • Jim O'Heir as Jerry 'Gerry' Gergich
  • Retta as Donna Meagle
  • Rob Lowe as Chris Traeger

Parks & Rec reunion story

Nothing's set in stone yet, but we could imagine the Parks & Recreation cast doing an entire episode about how Pawnee is responding to COVID-19. Social media network Gryzzl is likely spreading misinformation, and I'm betting that Sweetum's is trying to both re-open the economy immediately.

Also, can Jerry use Zoom? We'll find out. 

(Image credit: Future)
Henry T. Casey
Managing Editor (Entertainment, Streaming)

Henry is a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.