Arts Alerts: 22 Veteran Artist gallery at Peoria Library; Wizards of Winter and Civic Chorale playing at Five Points

ART EXHIBITS

The 11th annual “Small Wonder Gift Shop” is open at the Contemporary Art Center thru Dec. 20.
Creative strategist Justin Ahrens’ “See Different, Do Different” will be featured at Bradley University’s “Visual Voices” series from 5-6 p.m. Dec. 3 at GCC’s Horowitz Auditorium on campus.
The 11th annual 22 Veteran Artist gallery is up at the Peoria Public Library’s main branch through Dec. 31.
The Peoria Art Guild presents its annual members show Dec. 6-27.

SPECIAL EVENTS

“Live from Peoria: It’s Monday night!” After a screening of the 1989 movie “Christmas Vacation” in the Peoria Civic Center Theater, actor and comedian Chevy Chase will participate in an audience conversation.

COMEDY

Actor, comic and podcaster Sebastian Maniscalco will appear Dec. 13 at the Peoria Civic Center Arena.
Desi Banks will perform Dec. 27 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater.

The Joe Metzka band will be Live at the Five Spot on Dec. 13 at the Contemporary Art Center.

MUSIC

The ICC Philharmonic Chorale presents, “Joy! A Concert of Carols and Fun,” accompanied by stringed instruments and piano, Dec. 1 at ICC’s Performing Arts Center.
The Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra will perform Dec. 4 at the 3300 Event Center.
The Wizards of Winter — a 12-member group featuring veteran musicians from Alice Cooper, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Broadway — will perform its rock opera “Christmas Dreams” Dec. 5 at Five Points Washington.
Live at the Five Spot returns to Contemporary Art Center on Dec. 13 with the Joe Metzka band.
Peoria Area Civic Chorale’s “American Family Christmas” is Dec. 14-15 at Five Points Washington.
A “Home for the Holidays” program will be presented by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra Dec. 21 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater.

DANCE

Affinity Illinois Dance Center presents its first annual winter performance, “Holiday Enchantment,” at Connect Center in Washington on Dec. 7.
Peoria Ballet’s “Nutcracker” will return to the Civic Center Theater for three shows Dec. 14-15.

THEATER

Community Children’s Theatre presents “Anastasia” Dec. 4-8 at Peoria Players Theatre.

CLASSES & LECTURES

Peoria Historical Society will host open-house tours of the John C. Flanagan house on Dec. 1, 8 and 22 and tours of the Pettengill Morron house on Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
Dr. Simon Kelly, curator of St. Louis Art Museum, will present a lecture, “Matisse & the Sea,” at 10 a.m. Dec. 12 at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, sponsored by the Fine Arts Society of Peoria. For details, go to www.fineartssociety.net.

— For more information and details, check out the full calendar at artspartners.net.