BELFAST — This upcoming event has all the components you’ve come to expect from our Cheap Dates series. Chocolate. Art. Music. Boom, drop the mic.

This Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. Åarhus Gallery in Belfast will simultaneously blow your senses (and your futile attempt at maintaining a diet through the holidays) with samples of Dean's Sweets hand-dipped chocolates and Belfast-made all natural, Bixby Bars as musician Tom Luther channels his inner Herbie Hancock and Brian Eno and floods that shop with soundscapes from his digital keyboard and laptop. (Pay no attention to the lady in the corner with her cheeks stuffed with brandy, maple, cayenne and salted caramel truffles dancing all by herself like she’s at a drum circle at Burning Man).

While you’re there, take a gander at the gallery’s ‘Extravaganza’ show, featuring smaller artworks and a wide range of creative crafts. More than 70 talented Maine artists from throughout the Midcoast and beyond are represented, including pottery, poetry and painting, collage, etching and photography, woodblock prints, turned wood, felted and knitted fiber works, assemblage, cards, calendars, ornaments, glass plate images of Maine, affordable jewelry, music and more.

The event is free and if you get even some of your holiday shopping done, you’ve had a good time and you’ve supported an artist.  Even actor Kevin Bacon (portraying Melvin Macon here in this ad) is getting into the Shop Local act.

Åarhus Gallery is located at 50 Main St. in Belfast. Visit aarhusgallery.com for a list of the artists and a slide show of the current show, or call 338-0001 for more information.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com