This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, Dec. 15

• Indulge your sweet tooth (and beer tooth) as Pisgah Brewing Company and the French Broad Chocolate Lounge host a chocolate and beer pairing at 10 S. Lexington Ave. $6 includes one pint and two truffles, plus live music by multi-instrumentalist Ben Hovey. 6 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16

• “Agility is a sport where dogs and handlers work together to complete a series of obstacles, including jumps, teeter totters, tunnels, weavepoles and more, while racing against the clock,” according to the Blue Ridge Agility Club. “Both speed and accuracy are judged. Agility is fun for both the dog and the handler. Dog’s gain confidence and enjoy running, jumping and weaving through the challenges each course presents. Handlers enjoy the special bond that makes their pet their partner.” Check out the K-9 competition at the WNC Agricultural Center (1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher). 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Trials run through Sunday. Info: 697-2118.

• “HandMade in America‘s newest exhibition is Farm to Fashion — a display of the fiber community in Western North Carolina, from farmed animals to clothes and home decor,” reads the organization’s website. “HIA will celebrate the exhibit with a networking event, to sync with the screening of a Farm to Fashion documentary film being produced by a class at Western Carolina University.” More, from an entry on the North Carolina Arts Council‘s website, “There are at least 5,000 fiber animals on over 500 small farms in western N.C. There are more than 400 fiber artists in the region. The Southeastern Annual Fiber Fair attracts more than 8,000 visitors to the Agriculture Center each year. Take a look at the tag on your winter wool coat. Does it say where the wool came from? What type of sheep it was or who raised the animal? HandMade in America illustrates the fashions and home furnishings available from local textiles in Farm to Fashion.” 125 S. Lexington Ave #101A. 5:30-8 p.m.

• Enjoy and analyze a collection of experimental short films as the Classic World Cinema Foreign Film Series hosts Lipsett and Deren: A combined retrospective on experimental filmmakers Arthur Lipsett and Maya Deren. Discussions will follow each screening. Held in the upstairs Railroad Library of The Courtyard Gallery (109 Roberts St., River Arts District). 8 p.m. Free.

• For more than a month, local songwriters have gone head to head for cash and other prizes at the Brown Bag Songwriting Competition. Take in the best of the best and find out who will take home top honors as the Asheville Music Hall (31 Patton Ave.) hosts the Brown Bag Finals, featuring every winner from this season. $10. 7:30 p.m.

• From a recent Xpress review, “On Golden Rond has been gigging around Asheville for several years now, attracting a loyal following of fans. Their live shows are riotous affairs, raucous and rump shakingly good for a band whose song lyrics include ruminations on life’s most awkward moments. Frontman [and local filmmaker] Rod Murphy’s songs stick in your head long after the last note has faded. A solid rhythm section, harmonies, catchy guitar work and a trombone player of questionable sanity can’t hide the fact that sometimes RonD’s songs are really about finding anonymous love in the woods at a highway rest-area. In other words, you’ll never have a better time feeling uncomfortable. The band’s fans will confirm: “Sometimes you leave their shows and just want to go home and take a shower — and not because you’re sweaty.” With influences ranging from The Replacements to Dionne Warwick to Night Ranger (throw in the theme music to the Carolina Furniture Concepts radio spot on top to blend it all together), RonD has carved out a unique niche in the Asheville music scene.” The band plays Broadway’s (113 Broadway St.) with The Lost Gospels. 10 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17

• Enjoy an old-old-fashioned holiday celebration as the Henderson County Public Library (120 Library Road) hosts Castle Feast, a concert of Renaissance music for the holidays, featuring “soothing harmonies of the past with unique instruments from the time.” 11 a.m. Free. Info: smcgough@henderson.lib.nc.us or 697-4725.

• “The Legend of La Befana is a children’s favorite in Italy,” begins a synopsis by Red Herring Puppets. “It is the story of an old woman who is visited by the magi and leaves her home and cat in search of the Christ-child. Befana travels the world and encounters many new cultures and ideas. She never catches the magical star; but becomes inspired, and spends the rest of her life offering gifts to children who embody the spirit of goodness and hope.” Catch the show at White Horse Black Mountain (105C Montreat Road). 2 p.m. $8. Performances run through Sunday.

• Always wanted to illustrate your own comic? Join Nancy Silberkleit, co-CEO of Archie Comics, as she signs graphic novels and leads a workshop for kids and adults on how to create comic books. Hosted by Spellbound Children’s Bookshop (19 Wall St.). 2 p.m.

• From a press release, “Soulful Southern harmony trio the Swayback Sisters take the stage at the Westville Pub for their last local performance of the year. The newly-formed trio features the talents of Laura Blackley, Cary Fridley and Mary Ellen Bush. ‘We’ve made a conscious effort to emphasize traditional roots music within the context of our show,’ Blackley says. ‘And it’s definitely made a strong, positive impact on the creative flow.’ The ensemble performs howlin’ blues from the likes of Memphis Minnie, alongside mountain gospel and murder balladry from the likes of Ola Belle Reed, in addition to each member’s own compositions. ‘I like to think of us as the heart of bluegrass,’ Fridley adds. ‘You can have the most technically proficient musicians in the world playing, but if the heart’s not there, then what’s the point?’” 777 Haywood Road. 10 p.m.