The work of Disney illustrator and Herron graduate Bill Peet will be on display in Herron Gallery.

A painting from Dean Johnson's Holiday One Piece Show.

Cincinnati Ballet dancers in "Nutcracker."

1. 'Toys'

5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 7, free, Gallery No. 2, Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 N. Delaware St., (317) 396-3886, www.harrisoncenter.org, www.primarycolours.org.

Kipp Normand, Sarah Zuckerman, Dan Thompson, Chris Foster and others produced art for this year's in stallment of "Toys," an event hosted by the nonprofit Primary Colours. The art showcase coincides with the IDADA First Friday Art Tour and features art inspired by toys. Admission is free, but visitors are asked to bring dry pasta to donate to Second Helpings, which prepares meals for thousands of hungry children and adults every day.

2. The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie

*10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, or by appointment, through Jan. 5, free, Herron School of Art and Design, 735 W. New York St., Eskenazi Hall, HR 224, www.herron.iupui.edu.*

Author, illustrator, filmmaker and Herron alumnus Bill Peet left Indiana looking for his dream job and quickly found it working for Walt Disney. Peet (1915-2002) storyboarded the animated feature films "101 Dalmatians" and "Sword in the Stone" before his 27-year career ended. An exhibit, which opened Nov. 30, plus movies and story time, honors the artist's work this month at Herron School of Art and Design.

3. Holiday One Piece Show

5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 (opening reception), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (through Jan. 10), free, Dean Johnson Gallery, 646 Massachusetts Ave., (317) 634-8020, www.deanjohnson.com.

Dean Johnson Gallery gets into the giving spirit by offering Indianapolis art fans its annual "Holiday One Piece Show." Featuring more than 50 pieces by just as many local artists, the show will include sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography and more. Not only will it be a great chance to see the latest work from some of the city's best artists -- it'll also be an opportunity to pick up a great gift.

4. 'The Nutcracker' featuring the Cincinnati Ballet

7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-15, 2 p.m. Dec. 15-16, $20-$66, Murat Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., (317) 239-5151, www.ticketmaster.com.

For the first time in two years, Indianapolis will host a professional production of "The Nutcracker" during the holiday season. Thirty-six dancers from the Cincinnati Ballet will join more than 80 dancers from the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana for the production, created in 2001 by choreographer Val Caniparoli. Caniparoli has been associated with the San Francisco Ballet for more than three decades, and is known for his full-length "Lady of the Camellias" from 1994, as well as the more recent "A Cinderella Story."

5. Rejoice!

7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-8, free (ticket required), Clowes Hall, !4600 Sunset Ave., (317) 940-6444, www.cloweshall.org.

Butler University is once again combining the powers of its three major music ensembles -- Butler Chorale, Butler University Choir and Butler Symphony Orchestra -- for two nights of holiday-themed music. The second half of the performance will include "Magnificat," by John Rutter, which will include several student soloists under the direction of Eric Stark. Best of all, the event is free (but call ahead to get a ticket). Now that's reason for rejoicing.