2016 Christmas TV Schedule: When Are Holiday Classics On?

We might live in an on-demand, streaming-all-the-time world, but that doesn't mean there isn't a certain joy of watching a holiday classic when it's broadcast on TV.

That's why Patch has put together highlights for holiday shows every night into the new year, courtesy of Freeform (formerly ABC Family) and a holiday TV website. The listing runs the gamut from Bing Crosby and Jimmy Stewart on Turner Movie Classics to countless showings of Will Ferrell as everyone’s favorite elf. The deluge of Christmas romances on Hallmark Channel has begun nearly around the clock.

Freeform kicks off its annual holiday programming Dec. 1 with its "25 Days of Christmas" schedule, which has not been fully released yet. Likewise for NBC, which shows "It’s a Wonderful Life" several times during the season. Patch will update this listing as more networks confirm their offerings.

Listings are subject to change. Check each network’s website for updates. Here’s the schedule of evening shows (all times are Central):

Friday, Nov. 25

• 6 p.m.: "A Puppy for Christmas" | UP
• 7 p.m.: "Journey Back to Christmas" | Hallmark
• 7 p.m.: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "Frosty the Snowman" | CBS
• 7 p.m.: "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" | CW
• 7 p.m.: "Disney Parks Presents: A Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration" | Disney
• 7:30 p.m.: "Frosty Returns" | CBS

Saturday, Nov. 26

• 6 p.m.: "Falling For Christmas" | UP
• 7 p.m.: "A Heavenly Christmas" | Hallmark
• 8 p.m.: "The Story of Santa Claus" | CBS

Sunday, Nov. 27

• 6 p.m.: "The Rooftop Christmas Tree" | UP
• 7 p.m.: "Broadcasting Christmas" | Hallmark

Monday, Nov. 28

• 7 p.m.: "CMA Country Christmas" |ABC
• 7 p.m.: "The Holiday" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "Scrooged" | Freeform

Tuesday, Nov. 29

• 7 p.m.: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" | CBS
• 11 p.m.: "Jingle All the Way" | Freeform

Wednesday, November 30

• 6 p.m.: "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" | NBC
• 6 p.m.: "Jingle All the Way" | Freeform
• 8 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "Deck the Halls" | Freeform

Thursday, Dec. 1

• 5 p.m.: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" | Freeform
• 6:05 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "The Man Who Came to Dinner" | TCM
• 8 p.m.: "The Great American Baking Show" | ABC
• 8:15 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 9 p.m.: "It Happened on 5th Avenue" | TCM
• 10:20 p.m.: "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "O. Henry's Full House" | TCM
• 11:55 p.m.: "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" | Freeform
• 1:15 a.m.: "Meet John Doe" | TCM
• 3:30 a.m.: "Fitzwilly" | TCM

Friday, Dec. 2

• 4:10 p.m.: - "Disney's A Christmas Carol" | Freeform
• 6:15 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: National Christmas Tree Lighting | Hallmark
• 7 p.m.: "I Love Lucy Christmas Special" | CBS
• 8:20 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform

Saturday, Dec. 3

• 5:45 p.m.: "Arthur Christmas" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "A Dream of Christmas" | Hallmark
• 7:50 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 9:55 p.m.: "The Holiday" | Freeform

Sunday, Dec. 4

• 3:30 p.m.: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | Freeform
• 4:35 p.m.: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" | Freeform
• 5:40 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 6 p.m.: "Girlfriends of Christmas Past" | UP
• 7 p.m.: "Looks Like Christmas" | Hallmark
• 7:45 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 9:55 p.m.: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | Freeform

Monday, Dec. 5

• 6 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "The Great Christmas Light Fight" | ABC
• 8 p.m.: "Scrooged" | Freeform

Wednesday, Dec. 7

• 4 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform
• 6 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 8 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "12 Dates of Christmas" | Freeform

Thursday, Dec. 8

• 4 p.m.: "Deck the Halls" | Freeform
• 6 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "Toy Story That Time Forgot" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "Taraji's White Hot Holidays" | Fox
• 7:30 p.m.: "Shrek the Halls" | ABC
• 8 p.m.: "Disney's A Christmas Carol" | Freeform

Friday, Dec. 9

• 4:40 p.m.: "The Search for Santa Paws" | Freeform
• 6:45 p.m.: "Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups" | Freeform
• 8:50 p.m.: "Snow Buddies" | Freeform
• 10:55 p.m.: "Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July" | Freeform

Saturday, Dec. 10

• 7 p.m.: A Nutcracker Christmas | Hallmark
• 7 p.m.: "It's a Wonderful Life" | NBC
• 9:20 p.m.: "Toy Story That Time Forgot" | Freeform
• 11:55 p.m.: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" | Freeform

Sunday, Dec. 11

• 6 p.m.: "Season’s Greetings" | UP
• 7 p.m.: "Meant To Be" | Hallmark
• 8:25 p.m.: "Toy Story That Time Forgot" | Freeform
• 8:55 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform

Monday, Dec. 12

• 4:30 p.m.: "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" | Freeform
• 6 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "The Great Christmas Light Fight" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" | CW
• 7 p.m.: "Meet Me in St. Louis" | TCM
• 8 p.m.: "The Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown" | CW
• 9 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 9 p.m.: "In the Good Old Summertime" | TCM
• 11 p.m.: "Christmas Cupid" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas!" | TCM
• 12:15 a.m.: "Bachelor Mother" | TCM
• 1:45 a.m.: "Bundle of Joy" | TCM
• 3:30 a.m.: "Susan Slept Here" | TCM

Thursday, Dec. 15

• 4 p.m.: "Arthur Christmas" | Freeform
• 6 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "Disney's Prep & Landing" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2016" | CW
• 7 p.m.: "The Shop Around the Corner" | TCM
• 7:30 p.m.: "Disney's Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice" | ABC
• 8 p.m.: "The Search for Santa Paws" | Freeform
• 9 p.m.: "Christmas in Connecticut" | TCM
• 11 p.m.: "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe" | Freeform)
• 11 p.m.: "Love Finds Andy Hardy" | TCM
• 12:45 a.m.: "Desk Set" | TCM
• 2:45 p.m.: "Period of Adjustment" | TCM

Friday, Dec. 16

• 6:35 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade | CW
• 8:45 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform
• 10:55 p.m.: "Disney's A Christmas Carol" | Freeform

Saturday, Dec. 17

• 5:50 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown" | ABC
• 7 p.m.: "My Christmas Love" | Hallmark

Sunday, Dec. 18

• 4:10 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "Sleigh Bells Ring" | Hallmark
• 8:50 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform

Thursday, Dec. 22

• 5:45 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "Terry Crews Saves Christmas" | CW
• 7 p.m.: "Holiday Affair" | TCM
• 7:55 p.m.: "Jingle All the Way" | Freeform
• 8:45 p.m.: "Remember the Night" | TCM
• 10:30 p.m.: "A Christmas Carol" | TCM
• 11 p.m.: "Disney's A Christmas Carol" | Freeform
• 12:15 a.m.: "Babes in Toyland" | TCM
• 1:45 a.m.: "Little Women" | TCM

Friday, Dec. 23

• 4 a.m.: "A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas!" | TCM
• 6 a.m.: "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" | Freeform
• 6:30 a.m.: "Jack Frost" | Freeform
• 10 a.m.: "Richie Rich's Christmas Wish" | Freeform
• Noon: "Jingle All the Way" | Freeform
• 2 p.m.: "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" | Freeform
• 3:35 p.m.: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | Freeform
• 4:40 p.m.: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" | Freeform
• 5:45 p.m.: "Disney's A Christmas Carol" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "A Home for the Holidays" | CBS
• 7 p.m.: "Terry Crews Saves Christmas" | CW
• 7:50 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 8 p.m.: "Terry Crews Saves Christmas" | CW
• 11 p.m.: "Home Alone: The Holiday Heist" | Freeform

Saturday, Dec. 24

• 5:45 a.m.: "Tenth Avenue Angel" | TCM
• 7 a.m.: "Meet John Doe" | TCM
• 9:15 a.m.: "Scrooge" | TCM
• 11:15 a.m.: "It Happened on 5th Avenue" | TCM
• 1:15 p.m.: "Holiday Affair" | TCM
• 2:30 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform
• 3 p.m.: "The Shop Around the Corner" | TCM
• 4:35 p.m.: "The Santa Clause" | Freeform
• 5 p.m.: "Meet Me in St. Louis" | TCM
• 6:40 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 7 p.m.: "It's a Wonderful Life" | NBC
• 7 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 7 p.m.: "Christmas in Connecticut" | TCM
• 8:45 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 9 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 9 p.m.: "The Dolly Sisters" | TCM
• 10:55 p.m.: "Scrooged" | Freeform
• 11 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 11 p.m.: "In the Good Old Summertime" | TCM
• 1 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 1 a.m.: "The Man Who Came to Dinner" | TCM
• 3 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 3 a.m.: "Bell, Book and Candle" | TCM

Sunday, Dec. 25

• 5 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 5 a.m.: "Going My Way" | TCM
• 6 a.m.: "The Search for Santa Paws" | Freeform
• 7 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 7:30 a.m.: "Boys Town" | TCM
• 8 a.m.: "The Disney Parks' Magical Christmas Celebration" | ABC
• 8:10 a.m.: "Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws" | Freeform
• 9 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 10:20 a.m.: "Arthur Christmas" | Freeform
• 11 a.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 12:25 p.m.: "The Polar Express" | Freeform
• 1 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 2:30 p.m.: "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | Freeform
• 3 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 3:35 p.m.: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" | Freeform
• 4:40 p.m.: "Elf" | Freeform
• 5 p.m.: "A Christmas Story" | TBS
• 6:45 p.m.: "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" | Freeform
• 8 p.m.: "When Calls the Heart" | Hallmark
• 8:55 p.m.: "Scrooged" | Freeform

—By DEB BELT | Patch Staff

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (photo via Rankin Bass)

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