2015 Christmas TV Schedule: When to See Holiday Classics

By DEB BELT (Patch Staff)

Check this season’s primetime lineup of holiday programming on TV to find your favorite classic films — “A Christmas Story,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Miracle on 34th Street” and more.

Patch has pulled together these highlights for holiday shows every night into the new year, courtesy of TV Guide 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, and lots of romances on Hallmark Channel, which is running nothing but Christmas movies from now through the holiday.

Also, “A Very Murray Christmas” is available on Netflix.

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• 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, all times Eastern unless otherwise noted:

Saturday, Dec. 5

• 6 p.m. “Snow Bride” | Hallmark
• 6 p.m. “A Gift Wrapped Christmas” | Lifetime
• 7 p.m. “Christmas with Tucker” | Hallmark Movies
• 7:15p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “It’s A Wonderful Life” | NBC
• 8 p.m. Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Just in Time for Christmas” | Hallmark
• 8 p.m. “The Flight Before Christmas” | Lifetime
• 9 p.m. “Debbie Macomber’s Mr. Miracle” | Hallmark Movies
• 9 p.m. M”erry Kissmas” | ION
• 9:30 p.m. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “Crown for Christmas” | Hallmark
• 10 p.m. “Dear Santa” | Lifetime
• 10 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family

Sunday, Dec. 6

• 6 p.m. “A Christmas Detour” | Hallmark
• 6:30 p.m. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” | ABC Family
• 7 p.m. “Beverly Hills Christmas” | UP
• 8 p.m. “Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge” | Hallmark
• 9 p.m. “Magic Stocking” | Hallmark Movies
• 9 p.m. “How Sarah Got Her Wings” | ION
• 9 p.m. “Last Chance Christmas” | Lifetime
• 9 p.m. “Beverly Hills Christmas” | UP
• 10 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “A Boyfriend for Christmas” | Hallmark

Monday, Dec. 7

• 6:30 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “Christmas with the Kranks” | AMC
• 8:45 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “Jingle All the Way” | AMC

Tuesday, Dec. 8

• 6 p.m. “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” | ABC Family
• 6 p.m. “Christmas with the Kranks” | AMC
• 6:30 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Jingle All the Way” | AMC
• 8:30 p.m. “Fresh Off the Boat” | ABC
• 8:45p.m. “The Polar Express” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “Scrooged” | AMC

Wednesday, Dec. 9

• 6 p.m. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” | ABC Family
• 6:30 p.m. “The Polar Express” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “The Middle” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “Scrooged” | AMC
• 8:30 p.m. “The Goldbergs” | ABC
• 8:45p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 9 p.m. “Taraji and Terrence’s White Hot Holidays” | FOX
• 9:30 p.m. “Black-ish” | ABC
• 10 p.m. “A Christmas Carol” | AMC

Thursday, Dec. 10

• 6:30 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 7 p.m. “Miracle on 34th Street” | AMC
• 8:45p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 9 p.m. “Coat of Many Colors” | NBC
• 9:15 p.m. “Miracle on 34th Street” | AMC
• 11:30 p.m. “White Christmas” | AMC

Friday, Dec. 11

• 6:45 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 7 p.m. “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” | AMC
• 8 p.m. “Last Man Standing” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “The Hollywood Christmas Parade” | CW
• 8 p.m. “The Man Who Came to Dinner” | TCM
• 8:30 p.m. “Dr. Ken” | ABC
• 9 p.m. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “Scrooge” | TCM

Saturday, Dec. 12

• 6 p.m. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “On The Twelfth Day of Christmas” | Hallmark
• 8 p.m. “Becoming Santa” | Lifetime
• 9 p.m. “The Flight Before Christmas” | CBS
• 9 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 9 p.m. “The Christmas Truce” | ION
• 11:15 p.m. “Fred Claus” | ABC Family

Sunday, Dec. 13

• 7 p.m. “A Baby For Christmas” | UP
• 9 p.m. “Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC Family
• 9 p.m. “Debbie Macomber’s Dashing Through the Snow” | Hallmark Movies
• 9 p.m. “A Christmas Reunion” | ION
• 9 p.m. “Wish Upon a Christmas” | Lifetime
• 9 p.m. “A Baby For Christmas” | UP

Monday, Dec. 14

• 6 p.m. “Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Jingle All the Way” | AMC
• 8:45 p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” | ABC
• 10 p.m. “Jingle All the Way” | AMC

Tuesday, Dec.15

• 6 p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC
• 8:15p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 8:30 p.m. “Shrek the Halls” | ABC
• 10:30 p.m. “The Little Drummer Boy” | ABC Family

Wednesday, Dec. 16

• 6 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 8:15 p.m. “The Polar Express” | ABC Family
• 10:30 p.m. “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey” | ABC Family

Thursday, Dec. 17

• 6:30 p.m. “The Polar Express” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing” | ABC
• 8:30 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing 2: Naughty vs. Nice” | ABC
• 8:45p.m. “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” | ABC Family

Friday, Dec. 18

• 6:30 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing” | ABC Family
• 7 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” | ABC Family
• 7:30 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “I’ll Be Seeing You” | TCM
• 8:30 p.m. “Yes, Virginia” | ABC
• 9 p.m. “A Home for the Holidays” | CBS
• 9:30 p.m. “Christmas in Connecticut” | TCM
• 9:45 p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family

Saturday, Dec. 19

• 7:30 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “A Christmas Melody” | Hallmark
• 8 p.m. “The Spirit of Christmas” | Lifetime
• 8 p.m. “The Shop Around the Corner” | TCM
• 9:45 p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family

Sunday, Dec. 20

• 7 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “Christmas Land” | Hallmark
• 9:15p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 11:30 p.m. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” | ABC Family

Monday, Dec. 21

• 6:30 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 8:45 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 10 p.m. “The Great Christmas Light Fight” | ABC

Tuesday, Dec. 22

• 5:30 p.m. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” | ABC Family
• 6:30 p.m. “The Santa Clause” | ABC Family
• 8:45p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family

Wednesday, Dec. 23

• 6:30 p.m. “Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” | ABC Family
• 7 p.m. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” | ABC Family
• 7:30 p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” | CBS
• 8 p.m. “Happy Holidays with Bing & Frank” | TCM
• 8:45 p.m. “The Miracle of the Bells” | TCM
• 9:45 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family

Here’s the around-the-clock TV viewing guide for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

Thursday, Dec. 24

• 5:15 a.m. “Bush Christmas” | TCM
• 6:45 a.m. “The Great Rupert” | TCM
• 7 a.m. Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July | ABC Family
• 8:15 a.m. “A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas” | TCM
• 9 a.m. The Little Drummer Boy | ABC Family
• 9:15 a.m. “A Christmas Carol” | TCM
• 10:30 a.m. Bachelor Mother | TCM
• 11 a.m. “Home Alone: The Holiday Heist” | ABC Family
• 12 p.m. “Meet John Doe” | TCM
• 1 p.m. “Prancer” | ABC Family
• 2:15 p.m. “Christmas in Connecticut” | TCM
• 3:15 p.m. “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” | ABC Family
• 4:15 p.m. “Holiday Affair” | TCM
• 5 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing” | ABC Family
• 5:30 p.m. “Disney’s Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” | ABC Family
• 6 p.m. “Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC Family
• 6 p.m. “Meet Me in St. Louis” | TCM
• 6:30 p.m. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” | ABC Family
• 8 p.m. “It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol” | CW
• 8 p.m. “It’s A Wonderful Life” | NBC
• 8 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 8 p.m. “The Bishop’s Wife” | TCM
• 8:45 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 9 p.m. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” | ABC
• 10 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS

Friday, Dec. 25

• 12 a.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family
• 12 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 12:30 a.m. “Mrs. Parkington” | TCM
• 2 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 2:45 a.m. “The Shop Around the Corner” | TCM
• 4 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 4:30 a.m. “Little Women” | TCM
• 6 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 6:45 a.m. “Little Women” | TCM
• 7 a.m. “Prancer” | ABC Family
• 8 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 8:45 a.m. “Scrooge” | TCM
• 10 a.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 10:45 a.m. “3 Godfathers” | TCM
• 11 a.m. “Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey” | ABC Family
• 11:30 a.m. “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” | ABC Family
• 12 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 12:30 p.m. “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” | ABC Family
• 12:45 p.m. “I’ll Be Seeing You” | TCM
• 2 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 2:15p.m. “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” | ABC Family
• 2:15p.m. “The Man Who Came to Dinner” | TCM
• 4 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 4:30 p.m. “Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story That Time Forgot” | ABC Family
• 5 p.m. “Elf” | ABC Family
• 6 p.m. “A Christmas Story” | TBS
• 6 p.m. “It Happened on 5th Avenue” | TCM
• 8 p.m. “CMA Country Christmas” | ABC
• 10:15 p.m. “Bachelor Mother” | TCM

And the specials continue into the New Year’s weekend.

Monday, Dec. 28

• 8 p.m. “Happy New Year, Charlie Brown” | ABC
• 9 p.m. “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” | ABC

Tuesday, Dec. 29

• 9 p.m. “Kennedy Center Honors” | CBS

Thursday, Dec. 31

• 8 p.m. “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2016” | ABC
• 8 p.m. “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution, Part 1” | FOX
• 10 p.m. “New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly” | NBC

Friday, Jan. 1

• 11 a.m. “Tournament of Roses Parade” | NBC

» Photo via shutterstock; ‘’Elf’ via imbd.com.