NJ summer of '21: Everything you need to know for fun in the sun

Watch the video above for a replay of our live broadcast.

After a pandemic that has stretched longer than a year and claimed so many lives, New Jersey is ready to head out, take off the mask and live without fear.

Pandemic restrictions hit the tourism industry particularly hard in 2020. With most of those restrictions expected to be lifted on May 19, New Jersey 101.5 will present a live town hall featuring tourism and medical experts from across the Garden State.

The "Summer of '21" Town Hall hosted by Eric Scott will air live 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21 on air and online at NJ1015.com and Facebook.com/NJ1015.

“Everyone is understandably anxious for a summer of fun,” Scott said. “This program will help guide families into making smart decisions so they can enjoy the summer safely.”

Check out this list of summer events!

The program’s on-air expert panel will feature Dr. Margaret Fisher, world-renowned pediatric infectious disease specialist, and Jeff Vasser, executive director of the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

The program will also feature check-ins with the mayors of New Jersey shore towns and representatives from the state's biggest venues and attractions.

The hour's guests will include:

Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn
Former Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello
Festival of Ballooning Executive Director Howard Freeman
Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz
Kristin Fitzgerald, Six Flags Great Adventure
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra

Scott and his guests will also answer live, call-in questions from listeners throughout the hour.

The Summer of '21 Series

The Tastiest Jersey Shore Food Trucks You Should Try This Summer

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.