Free events in Toronto this week are, thanks to World Pride, the best kind of rainbow - a free rainbow. Parties, screenings, performances, readings, hangs, and parades dot the city like some wild witch opened a new bag of Dollarama glitter too fast and now we're never getting that stuff off the floor and every dog that comes to visit is licking sparkles off the floor and giving sparkle kisses for days - to to mention what else comes out the other end. That's Pride for you, though.

Here's how to have the sparkliest time ever for free in Toronto this week.

Blue Coffee Reading Series
Blue Coffee Reading Series #7 will feature Niki Koulouris, Rudyard Fearon, and JC Bouchard. Be sure to toss a couple of bucks (for more scientifically engineered blue coffee?) to the performers who wow you. Monday, June 23, 8pm, Magpie Taproom (831 Dundas St. West).

POETRIX - World Pride Poetry Night
Get lit for Pride with an open mic and readings by Debra Anderson, Kirk DeMatas, Akhaji Zakiya, and more. Monday June 23, 8pm, Glad Day Bookshop (598A Yonge Street).

ACTING UP - ACTING OUT - World Pride Performances
Glad Day Bookshop wants you to enjoy Pride for free this week all week - this time with theatre, music, and magic performances. Tuesday June 24, 7:30pm, Glad Day Bookshop (598A Yonge Street).

The TALLBOYS TUNE UP Patio Party for Bike Month 2014
Quote Tallboys: "The city won't give us a patio, so we're taking over Steam Whistle's beautiful beer garden for the biggest and baddest Bike Month Jam!" What's up with that, Toronto? Don't you like patios? Zip your bike over for live music, burgers, and beer - plus free bike safety checks and minor tune ups. Wednesday June 25 6pm, Steam Whistle Brewery (The Roundhouse - 255 Bremner Blvd).

THE CITY'S IN FLAME! Film and Video at Toronto Public Library
Musician/photographer Don Pyle will screen Will Munro's Dirty Load (2007), The Troublemakers (1990), I'm Not In Love (2011), An Afternoon at New Rose with the Viletones (1978) and many more. Wednesday, June 25, 7pm, Fort York Branch of Toronto Public Library (190 Fort York Blvd.)

Youth Pride BBQ 2014!
This free BBQ is open to youth ages 16-29. Kid Named Greg DJs, plus there will be prizes, food, a photo booth, and other programming. Wednesday, June 25, 2-4pm. Central Toronto Community Health Centres (168 Bathurst Street).

Maylee Todd at Shops at Don Mills
The Shops at Don Mills are running a ton of free programming right now, and best of all Maylee Todd will perform this Thursday. Check out our profile on Maylee Todd here. Thursday, June 26, 7pm, Shops at Don Mills (1090 Don Mills Road).

Starry Night
It's a drag party under the stars! RuPaul's Drag Race finalists Adore Delano, Courtney Act, Bianca Del Rio, Darienne Lake will be hanging out. Thursday, June 26, 7pm, Cawthra Square Park (519 Church Street).

Movies in St. James Park
Head to St James Park for The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - plus a free drag cabaret. Thursday, June 26, 8pm, St. James Park (120 King Street East).

Soundhackers Meetup
NAISA's free monthly meet up for audio geeks is Thursday, June 26 at 7pm. The Naisa Space (601 Christie St, #252).

LIFT OFF! Festival 2014
Cahoots Theatre Creation Space on Queen East present a three day mini-fest of performances, readings, workshops, and more. June 27-29, Cahoots Theatre Creation Space (388 Queen Street. East)

WORLD PRIDE: Green Space LIPSTICK JUNGLE
Post Dyke March (also free!) thousands of lesbian, trans and gay marchers will head to Lipstick Jungle for a banging outdoor dance party. DJs include Kim Ann Foxman, Francesca Lombardo, and Tizi. Saturday, June 28, 1pm, Green Space On Church (519 Church Street).

Pride Parade
Whether you're marching, floating, or cheering from the sides, the annual Pride Parade starts 1pm on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at Bloor and Church. Find a map here. Rob Ford will return to town on the 30th, naturally.

Alterna-Queer @ WorldPride Toronto
Post Pride Parade this party includes Lydia Lunch, plus Hervana, DJ Steve Rock, Zoo OWL, Unfinished Business, No Pants Society, PANTYCHRIST, Judy Virago and Igby Lizzard Trash Cabaret and more. It all goes down at Alexander Parkette outside Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street) from 2:30-11pm.

• Elvis Mondays at the Drake
• Foosball Battle Royale, Monday, Disgraceland
• Art Gallery of Ontario free evening, Wednesday, 6-8:30pm.
• IFOA Weekly, free for supporters, students, & youth under 26, Wednesday, Harbourfront Centre
• Skin of My Nuts Comedy Show, Thursday, Sonic Espresso Bar
• Canadian Opera Company's Free Concerts series
• While nearly all art galleries in the city are free to enter, it's worth noting The Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) is always PWYC.
• The ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) offers discounted tickets on Fridays ($10).

Do you want everyone to know about your kinda random free or pay-what-you-can event? Submit it to our event section. (You can also submit your for-money events here, greedy-pants.)

Photo: Mauricio Calero