Rainbow Days at Six Flags, 2012 Pride Ride and more this weekend

Thursday, Aug. 23- Sunday, Aug. 26

Self-proclaimed “non-corporate, no-bullshit music festival” Nophest 2012 takes over stages all over East Atlanta for tons of independent local music, including Amber Taylor and the Sexual Side Effects. Full schedule and locations at www.nophest.com

Friday, Aug. 24

Join AID Atlanta’s Gay Outreach for a coffee talk. 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Starbucks, 2571 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, http://on.fb.me/Nsm7Iq, for more info: [email protected]

SKIN: Be Free to Love is the Atlanta stop of the “global movement encouraging unity, acceptance and transformation” that also includes bringing greater awareness to bullying, inequality and discrimination. DJ Scorpio spins. Proceeds benefit the Atlanta Mission. 7 - 10 p.m. at Opera, 1150 Crescent Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.chriscolemanenterprises.com, www.theskinfoundation.org

Real Bois Talk, a discussion group for butch-identified women of color, hosts a screening of “The Aggressives,” a documentary on the “secret club culture of New York lesbians living as aggressives.” 7 - 9:15 p.m. at the Rush Center, 1530 Dekalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.thehealthinitive.org

Enjoy an evening of queer fiction with Eric Sasson, author of “Margins of Tolerance,” the 2011 Tartt First Fiction Award runner-up about characters as they “navigate their way through a minefield of challenges both internal and external.” 7:30 - 9 p.m. at Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, www.charisbooksandmore.com

It’s the last foam party of the year at Club Rush/Rush Lounge, and this one promises to be even bigger and better than the last. 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. at Club Rush, 2715 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30305, http://on.fb.me/RF77cZ

Saturday, Aug. 25

The 2012 Pride Ride takes riders on the Arabia Mountain Trail for 10 or 20 miles and raises funds for the annual festival. Assembly at 7:30 a.m., ride begins at 8:30 a.m. at Stonecrest Mall near the Food Court. www.atlantapride.org/events/pride-ride

Join an expected 5,000 of your closest LGBT friends for Rainbow Days at Six Flags. Admission is discounted and includes an evening buffet and performances by Tiffany and Cazwell. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Health Initiative, MEGA Family and Pets Are Loving Support. 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Six Flags, 275 Riverside Parkway SE,  Austell, GA 30168, www.rainbowdaysatsixflags.com

The Atlanta Bucks gay rugby hosts a “Rugby 101” clinic, offering the basics of their rough and rumble sport. Drinks afterwards, but the location will be announced at the clinic. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Coan Middle School, 1550 Hosea Williams Dr., Atlanta, GA 30317, www.facebook.com/atlantabucks

Help one of the country’s oldest feminist bookstores with a Cash Mob. It’s like a flash mob but with cash, and instead of an unsuspecting crowd, it’s a local business who needs your support. 12 - 3 p.m. at Charis Books and More, 1189 Euclid Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, http://on.fb.me/PPopiR, www.charisbooks.com

Burkhart’s favorite Savannah Leigh is heading to the Miss Continental drag pageant in Chicago, but she needs your help to reach the top. Join her and an all-start cast for an early show to benefit her journey. 6 - 10 p.m. at Burkhart’s, 1492 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, GA 30309, www.burkarts.com, http://on.fb.me/ODHgPC

The Atlanta Dream takes on the Minnesota Lynx at a For the Kid in All of Us night. Purchase tickets at the special link (listed here) and 33 percent goes to For the Kid, which hosts the annual Toy Party and Backpack in the Park. 7 p.m. at Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303, http://on.fb.me/R6143F

Ladies: Have you had the chance to see “Pariah” yet? It’s a wonderfully told coming out story about a young lesbian struggling with a mother adamantly against her sexuality. Now’s your time to catch it on a big screen with Atlanta’s Every Womyn. Donations at the door go to Lift Up Atlanta. 7 - 10 p.m. at the Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307, http://on.fb.me/NMxR93

Local boy DJ Sean Mac leads the Bear Invasion with headliner DJ Bryan Reyes delivering a set for the bears and their boys. 8 p.m. - 3 a.m. at Heretic, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.hereticatlanta.com, http://on.fb.me/Qjawy8

Each month, ladies who love ladies gather for FLIRT, a women’s event with DJ Ree De La Vega, cheap cocktails and “flirtinis.” 9 p.m. at Slice Westside (WestSide Pie), 1133 Huff Road, Atlanta, GA 30318, http://on.fb.me/NslGhq

After a long day of coaster rides at Rainbow Days at Six Flags, head over to GA Voice’s 2012 “Best Place to Meet Women” for the official women’s after party. 10 p.m. at My Sister’s Room, 1271 Glenwood Ave. Atlanta, GA 30316, www.mysistersroom.com

Jungle brings the boys together after Rainbow Days at Six Flags where DJ Phil Dabeatz makes his Atlanta debut with Debby Holiday live in concert. Reduced admission with wristband from Rainbow Days. 10 p.m. at Jungle, 2115 Faulkner Road, Atlanta, GA 30324, www.jungleatlanta.com

For more events, check out our full Best Bets calendar.