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From ‘Charlie Brown’ to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade: Here’s what to watch Thanksgiving weekend

By Stephanie Toone
Nov 27, 2019

Though food dressing, pumpkin (or sweet potato) pie and turkey will be the stars of the show, most homes will have the television aglow with the evergreen and live holiday programming throughout the holiday.

»MORE: Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2019: What time, what channel, balloons, performers

Mainstays like "Frosty the Snowman," which turns 50-years-old this year, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,”  "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" and others will air Thanksgiving Day and weekend.

Here's a rundown of programs airing from Wednesday until Sunday, Nov. 27-Dec. 1. Be aware that many of them will air multiple times. With a few exceptions, these are all the initial telecasts for the holiday season:

Nov. 27

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (ABC,  8 p.m.; “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will air 8 p.m. Dec. 5)

A still from 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.'
A still from 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.'

Nov. 28

"The 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" (9 a.m., NBC; re-airs at 2 p.m.)

"The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration" (8 p.m., ABC)

Nov. 29

"The Polar Express (7 p.m. & 9 p.m., AMC)

"Frosty the Snowman" (8 p.m., CBS)

"Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" (8 p.m., The CW; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 18)

"Frosty Returns" (8:30 p.m., CBS)

Nov. 30

"The Year Without a Santa Claus" (5:45 p.m. & 11 p.m., AMC) "Elf" (7 p.m. & 9 p.m., AMC)

"It's a Wonderful Life" (8 p.m., NBC; re-airs 8 p.m. Dec. 24; Will also air at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 on USA Network)

"Robbie the Reindeer: Hooves of Fire" (8 p.m., CBS)

"Robbie the Reindeer: Legend of the Lost Tribe" (8:30 p.m., CBS)

"The Story of Santa Claus" (9 p.m., CBS)

Dec. 1

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (6 p.m. & 8:15 p.m., AMC)

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (8 p.m., ABC)

"Christmas with the Kranks" (10:30 p.m., AMC)

Consult your daily listings for more details.

Tribune News Service contributed to this story.

About the Author

Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.

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