Chicago’s holiday TV season starts off with a cymbal-crashing bang on Saturday when WLS-Channel 7 presents coverage of the “Magnificent Mile Lights Festival,” the annual State Street parade, starting at 6 p.m.
Here are the best of the other classic specials and movies, plus a few new offerings, that will feed your holiday spirit from Thanksgiving to Christmas:
THURSDAY, NOV. 24
“McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade” (8 a.m., WGN-Channel 9): Balloons, bands and floats make their way up State Street.
“Bozo, Gar & Ray” (11 a.m., WGN-Channel 9): With the stop-motion classics “Hardrock, Coco and Joe,” “Suzy Snowflake” and “Frosty the Snowman.”
FRIDAY, NOV. 25
“Frosty the Snowman” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): A magician’s hat brings the button-nosed fella to life. Followed by the sequel “Frosty Returns” at 7:30.
“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”(7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7) The Meisterburger Burgermeister’s ban on toys converts a young do-gooder into Santa.
SATURDAY, NOV. 26
“The Story of Santa Claus” (8 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): Elves grant a kindly toymaker (voice of Ed Asner) his wish to deliver his wares around the world on Christmas Eve.
SUNDAY, NOV. 27
“Allstate Gospel Superfest: A Holiday Special” (noon and 10 p.m., TV One): J MOSS, Karen Clark-Sheard and others pay tribute to Shirley Caesar.
MONDAY, NOV. 28
“CMA Country Christmas” (7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): Jennifer Nettles returns as host of the Grand Ole Opry concert featuring Brett Eldredge, Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Young.
TUESDAY, NOV. 29
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): Rudy wants to fit in, Yukon wants to find gold and Hermey wants to be a dentist.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30
“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (7 p.m, WMAQ-Channel 5): Tony Bennett, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban and others set the stage for the New York tree lighting.
THURSDAY, DEC. 1
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” (7 p.m., WLS-Channel 7): Overwhelmed by the season’s greed, the blockhead takes charge of a holiday pageant.
FRIDAY, DEC. 2
“The I Love Lucy Christmas Special” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): In colorized episodes, Lucy spends the holiday reminiscing and struggles with a huge headdress.
SATURDAY, DEC. 3
“It’s a Wonderful Life” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5) An angel-to-be shows a small-town dad (James Stewart) how much he has mattered.
SUNDAY, DEC. 4
“Holiday Praise” (4 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): A Chicago gospel concert starring Erica Campbell, Jonathan McReynolds and Dorinda Clark-Cole.
MONDAY, DEC. 5
“VH1 Divas Holiday: Unsilent Night” (8 p.m., VH1): Mariah Carey and Patti LaBelle are among the powerhouses singing seasonal favorites in Brooklyn.
TUESDAY, DEC. 6
“The Carpenters: Close to You & Christmas Memories” (9 p.m., WTTW-Channel 11): A documentary about the brother-sister singers is followed by clips of their ’70s TV performances.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7
“Elf” (8 p.m., Freeform): A man brought up at Santa’s workshop (Will Ferrell) searches for his identity in New York.
THURSDAY, DEC. 8
“Taraji’s White Hot Christmas” (7 p.m., WFLD-Channel 32): “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson hosts renditions of holiday classics by Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott and others.
FRIDAY, DEC. 9
“Frosty’s Winter Wonderland” (10 a.m., Freeform): Children build a bride for their snowman friend.
SATURDAY, DEC. 10
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (6:30 p.m., TBS): Animated classic about a mean one trying to ruin Whoville’s holiday.
SUNDAY, DEC. 11
“Christmas in Connecticut” (1 p.m., TCM): A homemaking specialist (Barbara Stanwyck) fakes a family holiday for a war hero.
MONDAY, DEC. 12
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (7 p.m., WPWR-Channel 50): A boy must find his missing granny on Christmas Eve.
TUESDAY, DEC. 13
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (8 p.m., Freeform): Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family play host to a flock of relatives.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14
“A Pentatonix Christmas Special” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): The vocal group performs holiday favorites with Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson.
THURSDAY, DEC. 15
“Wheaton College Christmas Festival” (9 p.m., WTTW-Channel 11): Choirs and instrumental ensembles perform sacred music at the suburban college.
FRIDAY, DEC. 16
“The 85th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade” (7 p.m., WPWR-Channel 50): Olivia Newton-John is grand marshal for the Hollywood Boulevard procession.
SATURDAY, DEC. 17
“White Christmas” (9:30 p.m., AMC) Bing Crosby. A song-and-dance team help the owner of a Vermont inn.
SUNDAY, DEC. 18
“Stellar Tribute to the Holidays” (4 p.m., WGN-Channel 9): Music and messages from gospel artists including Mary Mary and Kirk Franklin.
MONDAY, DEC. 19
“America’s Got Talent Holiday Spectacular” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Channel 5): Finalists from the competition customize their acts for the season.
TUESDAY, DEC. 20
“The Year Without a Santa Claus” (4:35 p.m., Freeform): The Miser brothers and Saint Nick’s exhaustion imperil the holiday.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21
“A Christmas Carol” (7 p.m., AMC): Spirits introduce Scrooge (George C. Scott) to the joys of the season.
THURSDAY, DEC. 22
“A Christmas Carol” (10:30 p.m., TCM): Visions jolt miserly Scrooge (Alastair Sim) out of his lonely existence.
FRIDAY, DEC. 23
“A Home for the Holidays” (7 p.m., WBBM-Channel 2): Musical performances intermingle with touching stories of adoption.
CHRISTMAS EVE
“A Christmas Story”(7 p.m., TBS and TNT): Will the Red Ryder BB gun really shoot Ralphie’s eye out? (Repeats for 24 hours)
CHRISTMAS DAY
“Christmas Midnight Mass” (midnight, WGN-Channel 9) Live from Holy Name Cathedral. Also streaming at wgntv.com.
“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration” (9 a.m., WLS-Channel 7): Julianne and Derek Hough host festivities headlined by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson.
