2016 Christmas TV Schedule: When Are Holiday Classics On TV? (Updated)

(UPDATED Dec. 16) As you try to remember where you stashed wrapping paper and shop for the office grab-bag gift, you can add to the holiday spirit by watching holiday classics like "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "A Charlie Brown Christmas," and more.

The a cappella group Pentatonix has a special coming up on NBC, while the Holiday Baking Championships and outdoor Christmas lights contest air soon.

The deluge of Santa Claus, elves and all things Christmas is kicking into high gear. If your family Christmas traditions include gathering the kids to watch “Elf” or “Christmas Vacation,” or a heartwarming oldie like “It’s A Wonderful Life,” we have the dates and times for you to post on your calendar. Check the 2016 season’s lineup of holiday programming on TV to find your favorite classic films — "A Christmas Story," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Miracle on 34th Street" and more.

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

Freeform kicked off its annual holiday programming Dec. 1 with its 25 Days of Christmas schedule. Likewise for NBC, which shows "It’s a Wonderful Life" several times during the season.

»What are your must-see holiday movies? Let us know in the comments.

Listings are subject to change; check each network’s website for updates.

Here’s the schedule of evening shows, all times Eastern unless otherwise noted:

Friday, December 16

• 5 pm - Sound of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 5:30 pm - Jingle All the Way | Freeform
• 6 pm - Nine Lives of Christmas Hallmark
• 7 pm - Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow | Hallmark Movies
• 7 pm - Brian Setzer Orchestra Live Christmas Extravaganza | MTV Live
• 7:35 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Freeform
• 8 pm - The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade | CW
• 8 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 8 pm - Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas! | Disney
• 8 pm - Love You Like Christmas | Hallmark
• 8 pm - It's a Wonderful Life | USA
• 9 pm - Merry Christmas, Baby! | Aspire
• 9 pm - The Great Christmas Light Fight | Discovery Family
• 9 pm - Christmas Magic | Hallmark Movies
• 9 pm - The Rooftop Christmas Tree | UP
• 9:45 pm - The Polar Express | Freeform
• 10 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 10 pm - The Great Christmas Light Fight | Discovery Family
• 10 pm - Ice Sculpture Christmas | Hallmark
• 10 pm - Brian Setzer Orchestra Live Christmas Extravaganza | MTV Live
• 10:30 pm - A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas | FX
• 11 pm - Charming Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 11 pm - Christmas for a Dollar | UP
• 11:55 pm - Disney's A Christmas Carol | Freeform
• 12 am - A Christmas Melody | Hallmark

Saturday, December 17

• 5 pm - Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 5 pm - A Fairly Odd Christmas | NickToons
• 5:30 pm - Santa Claus: The Movie | AMC
• 6 pm - Christmas in Homestead | Hallmark
• 6:50 pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 7 pm - Journey Back to Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown | ABC
• 8 pm - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 8 pm - A Christmas Carol | AMC
• 9 pm - Sound of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 10 pm - Broadcasting Christmas | Hallmark
• 10:30 pm - White Christmas | AMC
• 11 pm - Mistletoe Over Manhattan | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - My Christmas Dream | Hallmark
• 1 am - Angel in the Family | Hallmark Movies
• 1:15 am - The Bishop's Wife | AMC
• 2 am - Christmas Land | Hallmark
• 3 am - A Christmas Visitor | Hallmark Movies
• 4 am - Best Christmas Party Ever | Hallmark

Sunday, December 18

• 1 pm - A Christmas Carol | AMC
• 1 pm - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Cartoon Network
• 1 pm - Angel of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 2 pm - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 3 pm - Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle | Hallmark Movies
• 4 pm - A Dream of Christmas | Hallmark
• 4:19 pm - Miracle on 34th Street | Starz Encore Family
• 4:40 pm - Disney's Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice | Freeform
• 5 pm - Operation Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 5:10 pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 6 pm - Four Christmases | AMC
• 6 pm - A Nutcracker Christmas | Hallmark
• 7 pm - The Christmas Ornament | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | AMC
• 8 pm - Sleigh Bells Ring | Hallmark
• 8 pm - Scrooge | TCM
• 9 pm - A Christmas to Remember | Hallmark Movies
• 9:50 pm - Elf | Freeform
• 10 pm - Christmas List | Hallmark
• 10:30 pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | AMC
• 11 pm - I'll Be Home for Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - Royal Christmas | Hallmark
• 1 am - Four Christmases | AMC

Monday, December 19

• 5 pm - Angels Sing | Hallmark Movies
• 6 pm - The Christmas Parade | Hallmark
• 6:50 pm - Elf | Freeform
• 7 pm - Christmas With Tucker | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - The Great Christmas Light Fight | ABC
• 8 pm - America's Got Talent Christmas Special | NBC
• 8 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 8 pm - 12 Gifts of Christmas | Hallmark
• 8:55 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Freeform
• 9 pm - A Dog Named Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 10 pm - A Perfect Christmas | Hallmark
• 11 pm - Our First Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - Just Friends | Freeform
• 12 am - A Wish For Christmas | Hallmark

Tuesday, December 20

• 5 pm - Love Always, Santa | Hallmark Movies
• 5:35 pm - The Year Without a Santa Claus | Freeform
• 6 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 6 pm - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 6:40 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Freeform
• 7 pm - Journey Back to Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - Terry Crews Saves Christmas | CW
• 8 pm - Four Christmases | AMC
• 8 pm - Christmas Cookies | Hallmark
• 8:50 pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 9 pm - The Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown | CW
• 9 pm - Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow | Hallmark Movies
• 10 pm - Merry Matrimony | Hallmark
• 11 pm - Cancel Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - Holidaze | Freeform
• 12 am - A Princess for Christmas | Hallmark

Wednesday, December 21

• 3:15 pm - The Polar Express | Freeform
• 4 pm - A Christmas Detour | Hallmark
• 5 pm - Mistletoe Over Manhattan | Hallmark Movies
• 5:20 pm - Disney's Prep & Landing | Freeform
• 5:50 pm - Disney's Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice | Freeform
• 6 pm - Four Christmases | AMC
• 6 pm - Love You Like Christmas | Hallmark
• 6:20 pm - Toy Story That Time Forgot | Freeform
• 6:50 pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 7 pm - A Christmas to Remember | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - Terry Crews Saves Christmas | CW
• 8 pm - A Christmas Carol | AMC
• 8 pm - A Heavenly Christmas | Hallmark
• 8:55 pm - Elf | Freeform
• 9 pm - Sound of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 10 pm - Sleigh Bells Ring | Hallmark
• 10 pm - SURPRISE! Instant Xmas Carol! | TBS
• 10:30 pm - Santa Claus: The Movie | AMC
• 11 pm - I'll Be Home for Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - The Mistle-Tones | Freeform
• 12 am - Help for the Holidays | Hallmark

Thursday, December 22

• 4 pm - Every Christmas Has a Story | (Hallmark
• 4:10 pm - Frosty's Winter Wonderland | Freeform
• 4:40 pm - Toy Story That Time Forgot | Freeform
• 5 pm - The Christmas Card | Hallmark Movies
• 5:10 pm - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas | Freeform
• 5:30 pm - A Christmas Carol | AMC
• 6 pm - On the Twelfth Day of Christmas | Hallmark
• 6:45 pm - Elf | Freeform
• 7 pm - A Christmas Wish | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - A Charlie Brown Christmas | ABC
• 8 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 8 pm - Terry Crews Saves Christmas | CW
• 8 pm- Holiday Affair | TCM
• 8 pm - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 8:55 pm - Jingle All the Way | Freeform
• 9 pm - Hearts of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 9:45pm - Remember the Night | TCM
• 10 pm - A Nutcracker Christmas | Hallmark
• 11 pm - Operation Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 11:30pm - A Christmas Carol | TCM
• 12 am - Christmas Incorporated | Hallmark
• 12 am - Disney's A Christmas Carol | Freeform
• 1 am - Christmas Secret | Hallmark Movies
• 1:15am - Babes in Toyland | TCM
• 2 am - Snow Bride | Hallmark
• 2:45am - Little Women | TCM

Friday, December 23

• 5 am - A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! | TCM
• 6 am - Hats Off to Christmas | Hallmark
• 7 am - Frosty's Winter Wonderland | Freeform
• 7 am - The Night Before the Night Before Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 7:30am - Jack Frost | Freeform
• 8 am - Let It Snow | Hallmark
• 9 am - Christmas with Holly | Hallmark Movies
• 11 am - Richie Rich's Christmas Wish | Freeform
• 11 am - Our First Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 1 pm - Jingle All the Way | Freeform
• 1 pm - Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle | Hallmark Movies
• 2 pm - Merry Matrimony | Hallmark
• 3 pm - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas | Freeform
• 3 pm - Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 4 pm - Once Upon a Holiday | Hallmark
• 4:35 pm - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town | Freeform
• 5 pm - Christmas Magic | Hallmark Movies
• 5:40 pm - The Year Without a Santa Claus | Freeform
• 6 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 6 pm - A Dream of Christmas | Hallmark
• 6:45 pm - Disney's A Christmas Carol | Freeform
• 7 pm - The Christmas Spirit | Hallmark Movies
• 8 pm - A Home for the Holidays | CBS
• 8 pm - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas | NBC)
• 8 pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | AMC
• 8 pm - Sleigh Bells Ring| Hallmark
• 8 pm - Terry Crews Saves Christmas | CW
• 8:50 pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 9 pm - Terry Crews Saves Christmas | CW
• 9 pm - A Christmas to Remember | Hallmark Movies
• 10 pm - Christmas in Homestead | Hallmark
• 10:30 pm - Four Christmases | AMC
• 11 pm - Sound of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 12 am - Broadcasting Christmas | Hallmark
• 12 am - Home Alone: The Holiday Heist | Freeform
• 12:30 am - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 1 am - The Christmas Pageant | Hallmark Movies
• 2 am - A Bride for Christmas | Hallmark
• 2:30 am - White Christmas | AMC
• 3 am - Gift of the Magi | Hallmark Movies
• 4 am - A Cookie Cutter Christmas | Hallmark

Saturday, December 24

• 5 am - A Christmas Wish | Hallmark Movies
• 6 am - Prancer | AMC
• 6 am - Christmas at Cartwright's | Hallmark
• 6:45am - Tenth Avenue Angel | TCM
• 7 am - Jack Frost | Freeform
• 7 am - Angel of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 8 am - Family For Christmas | Hallmark
• 8 am- Meet John Doe | TCM
• 8:05 am - Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas | Freeform
• 8:30 am - Santa Claus: The Movie | AMC
• 9 am - Magic Stocking | Hallmark Movies
• 9:40 am - Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas | Freeform
• 10 am - Christmas Incorporated | Hallmark
• 10:15am - Scrooge | TCM
• 11 am - A Christmas Carol | AMC
• 11 am - Sound of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 11:15 am - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town | Freeform
• 12 pm - A Christmas Melody | Hallmark
• 12:15pm - It Happened on 5th Avenue | TCM
• 12:20 pm - The Year Without a Santa Claus | Freeform
• 1 pm - Hearts of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 1:25 pm - Arthur Christmas | Freeform
• 1:30 pm - Four Christmases | AMC
• 2 pm - 12 Gifts of Christmas | Hallmark
• 2:15pm - Holiday Affair | TCM
• 3 pm - Journey Back to Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 3:30pm - The Polar Express | Freeform
• 3:30 pm - Deck the Halls | AMC
• 4 pm - Sleigh Bells Ring | Hallmark
• 4 pm - The Shop Around the Corner | TCM
• 5 pm - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 5:30 pm - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | AMC
• 5:35pm - The Santa Clause | Freeform
• 6 pm- Meet Me in St. Louis | TCM
• 6 pm - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 7:40pm - Elf | Freeform
• 8 pm- It's a Wonderful Life | NBC
• 8 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 8 pm- Christmas in Connecticut | TCM
• 8 pm - Every Christmas Has a Story | Hallmark
• 8 pm - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 9:30 pm - A December Bride | Hallmark
• 9:45pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Freeform
• 10 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 10 pm- The Dolly Sisters | TCM
• 11 pm - Christmas List | (Hallmark
• 11 pm - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 11:55pm - Scrooged | Freeform
• 12 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 12 am- In the Good Old Summertime | TCM
• 12:30am - A Dream of Christmas | Hallmark
• 2 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 2 am- The Man Who Came to Dinner | TCM
• 2 am - A Wish For Christmas | Hallmark
• 2 am - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 3:30 am - Love You Like Christmas | Hallmark
• 4 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 4 am- Bell Book and Candle | TCM

Sunday, December 25

• 6 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 6 am- Going My Way | TCM
• 6:30 am - Christmas in Homestead| Hallmark
• 7 am - The Search for Santa Paws | Freeform
• 8 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 8 am - A Perfect Christmas | Hallmark
• 8 am - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 8:30am - Boys Town | TCM
• 9 am - The Disney Parks' Magical Christmas Celebration | ABC
• 9:10 am - Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws | Freeform
• 9:30 am - My Christmas Love | Hallmark
• 10 am- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 11 am - Looks Like Christmas | Hallmark
• 11 am - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 11:20 am - Arthur Christmas | Freeform
• 12 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 12:30 pm - My Christmas Dream | Hallmark
• 1:25 pm - The Polar Express | Freeform
• 2 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 2 pm - Christmas Cookies | Hallmark
• 2 pm - A Very Happy Yule Log | Hallmark Movies
• 3:30 pm - The Mistletoe Promise | Hallmark
• 3:30 pm - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town | Freeform
• 4 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 4:35 pm - The Year Without a Santa Claus | Freeform
• 5 pm - A Nutcracker Christmas | Hallmark
• 5 pm - Finding Father Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 5:40 pm - Elf | Freeform
• 6 pm- A Christmas Story | TBS
• 6:30 pm - A Heavenly Christmas | Hallmark
• 7 pm - Operation Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 7:45 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | Freeform
• 8 pm - When Calls the Heart | Hallmark
• 9 pm - I'll Be Home for Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 9:30 pm - Crown for Christmas | Hallmark
• 9:55 pm - Scrooged | Freeform
• 11 pm - Hearts of Christmas | Hallmark Movies
• 11:30 pm - A Christmas Detour | Hallmark

Monday, December 26

• 8 pm - Happy New Year, Charlie Brown | ABC
• 8 pm - iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2016 | CW
• 9 pm - Rudolph's Shiny New Year | ABC

Written and compiled by Deb Belt (Patch Staff)

Patch file photo of "A Christmas Story" house in Cleveland; photo of 2015 National Christmas Tree from the National Park Service