The film was broadcast the day before the 30th anniversary of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The film takes place in November 1963.
After a flashback from the show where John is talking to Grandpa, John states that Grandpa has been gone 15 years. This movie is set in 1963, which would mean that Grandpa died in 1948. However, in the series, Grandpa died in 1941.
This - the 4th Walton reunion TV movie following the series' cancellation - is also the first to feature Richard Thomas recreating his original role of John Boy.
John Curtis is never mentioned in this movie. He would have been 22.