Free events in Toronto this week will have you spending Canada Day on the beach and heading to street festivals across the city. Sample food at Taste of Lawrence, salsa dance down St. Clair, or learn to drum at Afrofest. This weekend is jam packed with cost-free events that will have you kicking off the summer in style.

Here's what to do in Toronto if you've just paid your rent.

Canada Day at Queen's Park (July 1)
Spend Canada Day at Queen's Park and have some free family fun. Expect to find everything from live performances to drumming classes.

Corso Italia Mercato (July 3-4)
This street fest is a celebration of Italian culture that shuts down St. Clair between Westmount and Lansdowne. Expect to find buskers, art, shopping, live music and, of course, food vendors serving up your favourite Italian comfort foods.

Taste of Lawrence (July 3-5)
The Taste of Lawrence is a three-day food and cultural fest in Scarborough. It showcases foods from a number of local restaurants. There will also be midway rides and live music, as well as dancing in the streets.

Salsa on St. Clair (July 4-5)
Salsa on St. Clair is probably one of the festivals most fraught with steamy summer possibilities. Put on your dancing shoes and get to know the St. Clair community through dance. There will also be Latin food vendors on the streets, in case you need an energy boost.

Afrofest (July 4-5)
Look forward to a weekend of drumming and dancing when this event kicks off. Afrofest, the largest annual African music fest in the country, will be taking over Woodbine park with music, dance, interactive workshops, theatre, poetry, food and more.

Have a free event you'd like to plug? Submit it to our Toronto events calendar using this form.

UPDATE: Toronto Beach Party 2015 was removed as it has been cancelled. (30/06/2015)

Photo of Salsa on St. Clair by Irina No.