The top 5 free events in Toronto: Jan 5 - 11 2015

Free events in Toronto this week start your week laughing at others and end off with an afternoon of pant-less humiliation, as opposed to the regular kind that comes along with living down and out. In between the city offers sing-a-longs, indie music, and 80's porn (sort of). You can also grab free cupcakes at this Smiling Buddha metal show.

Here's how to begin another year of hazy, malnourished memories in Toronto this week.

1. Festival of New Formats (Jan 1-5, Comedy Bar)

This free multi-day festival at Comedy Bar will have you laughing your way into the new year. The final show is Monday, when you can look forward to acts like Home Improvement, My Improvised Hypothesis, So You Think You Can Rant, and Late Night After the Apocolypse.

2. Open Choir Rehearsal (January 6, 662 Pape Ave)

Have you been tempted to join a choir in Toronto? Singing Out, Toronto's LGTBQ chorus, invites you to come by on Tuesday for an open rehearsal. This season's theme is Broadway music.

3. Long Winter (January 9, Great Hall)

This session is stacked with bands who made our 2014 music round-ups: artists, bands, and speakers include Jason Doell, Dilly Dally, Bile Sister, and Nick Storring, plus Miracle Fortress, Mas Aya, ZONES, Moonwood, Das Rad, Tenderness, Analogue Preservation Network, an Apocalyptic Beach Rave, Jesse Brown of CANADALAND, and more. It's PWYC, so pay whatever... you... can. They'll get it.

4. Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography (January 9, TIFF)

As part of Canada's Top Ten Film Fest, see this Canadian Open Vault screening of Bonnie Sherr Klein's 1982 feminist documentary, Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography. You can also catch this free Canada's Top Ten panel discussion at noon.

5. No Pants Subway Ride Toronto 2015 & Dance Party (January 11, TBA)

Improv Everywhere's scantily clad ride-of-goose-pimples is back. On Sunday at 3PM, the gang of pants-less Torontonians, possibly including you, will leave from a yet to be disclosed location. There will be an after party at 6pm where you can dance away the chills (and icy stares).

Also check out these regular free events

Elvis Mondays (Mondays, The Drake)

Toronto's longest running indie showcase, William New's free show has put thousands of bands on stage. It's at the Drake Underground every Monday.

Free Nights at the Horseshoe (Monday/Tuesday, The Horseshoe)

The Legendary Horseshoe has a storied history, and hosts free indie rock shows in the early week with Shoeless Mondays and Dave Bookman's Nu Music Night on Tuesdays.

Free Evening (Wednesday, AGO)

The Art Gallery of Ontario's free evening runs from 6-8:30pm. It can be a little crowded, but sometimes the people watching is as good as the art (sometimes).

CINSSU's Free Friday Films (Fridays)

Though the Innis Town Hall is still under construction, you can follow the Cinema Studies Student Union for reliable Friday night movies and solid picks at Isabel Bader Theatre and/or Alumni Hall 100.

Canadian Opera Company (Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre)

September through to early June, catch free classical shows at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts "most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon, and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m."

MOCCA (Monday - Sunday)

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.

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

Photo by Natta Summerky

by Aubrey Jax via blogTO