The Fourth of July isn’t just about loud bangs and booms. For the final stretch of Portage’s parade Friday, it’s about toning down the noise to provide a sensory-friendly experience.

Joyce Russell, who works with the Portage Township Trustee’s Office on autism issues, contacted Portage events coordinator Norma Laboy about a similar feature in Hobart’s parade, and Laboy jumped on it, getting approval from Portage Event Partners and Mayor Austin Bonta.

“Yes, we’re all in. Let’s do this,” she said.

Laboy said Thursday she worked with Russell and Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center in Valparaiso to get advice.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Vivian Street, heading west to Willowcreek Road, then south to Sunset Avenue. When the parade reaches Gilbert Park for the final stretch, there will be a banner across the road to notify parade participants to tone it down.

“We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback about it, so I’ve got my fingers crossed” that people will tone it down at that point, Laboy said.

“It was just a suggestion from myself on behalf of Portage Township,” Russell said. “They said yes, so I’m very happy about that.”

A sensory-friendly stretch of the parade is good not just for people with autism but also for veterans with PTSD and others for whom loud noises and sensory overload can be triggering.

Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.