Ocean Twp. Italian American Festival - OCEAN -Unisex t-shirtBefore it was Joe Palaia Park, locals just called it the Deal Test Sitea former Army radar base turned summer playground. In 1976, the very first IAATO Italian American Festival set up shop there, and a Jersey Shore tradition was born. Folding tables, homemade zeppole, a cigarette in one hand and sausage and peppers in the otherit wasnt polished, but it was ours. Run by the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean, the early festivals