Tomorrow is the beginning of a whirlwind of colourful and entertaining events for the Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival.

The festival gets underway with a Rainbow Run today in Ballincollig Regional Park and everyone is invited to help create the most colourful parkrun ever seen in Cork.

Later, there will be Pride by the Sea in Youghal and Clonakilty.

Cumann Na Daoine in Youghal is hosting a family-friendly BBQ with live music on Claycastle Beach, with beach games, food stalls and information stands. People have also been urged to bring buckets and spades to join the sandcastle competition.

In Clonakilty, there will be DJs, games and giveaways for a fun family-friendly picnic in Emmet Square.

The entertainment continues into Sunday, with the annual Cork Pride Family Fun Day sponsored by Pepsi, full of rainbow festivities and activities to delight the young, the old, the tame and the bold.

With live music supplied from Sparkle & Witless and a kiddie’s disco courtesy of the RedFM DJs, there will be plenty to do, including bouncy castles, giant board games from Cork City Sports Partnership, colourful face painting and a Pride Market serving carnival food.

The annual ‘Scruffy Doo’ fun dog show will take place again this year, with prizes to be won and proceeds going to Irish Guide Dogs, followed by the Gay Olympics.

This year, a Wellness Tent offers fun and calming activities to relax and prepare for the crazy week ahead.

On Wednesday, July 31, from 6.30pm to 10pm at St Peter’s North Main Street there is the Gaze Film Festival Cinema Night, with LGBT Irish shorts that reflect the lives, experiences and circumstances of what it is to be LGBT+ in modern Ireland.

On Thursday, August 1, at the Crawford Art Gallery between 1pm and 2pm, curator Michael Waldron explores queer lives through art in a guided tour which looks at everything from Greek gods to philosophers, Irish artists and actors.

Saturday will see the Pride Village set up in Bishop Lucey Park from 12pm to 6pm.

Finally, the week of events culminates with the Cork Pride Parade on Grand Parade from 1pm to 3pm.

Expect a sea of floats, music and mayhem, sequined drag queens, glitter-covered guys and girls.