Watch out for anacondas at Barclays Center on Sunday.    (Photo: JC Olivera/Getty Images)

1. Kick off the weekend with music. On Friday, New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus begin five nights at Shea Stadium, performing their rock opera The Most Lamentable Tragedy, and Buster Poindexter, the bluesy and sartorially savvy alter ego of David Johansen, gets hot, hot, hot at City Winery.

2. Over at the mega-venues, the ever-­resilient U2 is in the middle of eight shows at MSG, and though Nicki Minaj thinks the VMAs snubbed her, they can't touch her show at Barclays on Sunday with Meek Mill, Dej Loaf, Rae Sremmurd, and Tinashe. (On Friday, catch them all at the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey.)

3. On Saturday, get sweaty—or watch people get sweaty—at the Urban Mudder obstacle-course race at Randalls Island.

4. Or head to another island for a mellower event, when the New York City Poetry Festival takes over Governors Island all weekend, featuring 250 poets, as well as a kids-only area where children can share their original work. Also, it's free.

5. Shakespeare in the Park begins performances of Cymbeline on Thursday, directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan.

6. Or do something more active in Central Park. On Saturday, crowds will come out for a giant water fight on the Great Lawn. It's free, but be aware that no water balloons are allowed, just water guns.

7. Preview the Mostly Mozart festival for free at a concert on Saturday night at Lincoln Center.

8. And on Sunday, head uptown for A Great Day in Harlem, kicking off Harlem Week (which is actually a monthlong celebration). Beginning at noon, at the U.S. Grant National Memorial Park, participate in cultural celebrations and see musical performances, including a salute to Ben E. King featuring Chuck Jackson, Lloyd Price, Paul Shaffer, and Toya — all free.

9. Get chuckles in this Sunday when the free Laughter in the Park series features Jo Firestone, Jon Fisch, Harrison Greenbaum, and Erin Jackson in Central Park.

10. Or get even more risqué than usual at Coney Island with the immersive surrealist burlesque show Hotel Tryst: No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn, being performed for two nights only, on Friday and Saturday. Pro tip: On Friday nights at 9:30 p.m., there are also fireworks on the beach during the summer. Happy weekend!