UPDATE: The air show returned to Fair St. Louis on Saturday with a series of death-defying stunts in a two-hour show. Organizers did not have an attendance number available, although they said it was certainly up from last year.

A highlight of the show was a performance of the Harrier, which can take off and land vertically as well as hover, flown by former Marine Art Nalls. He hovered above the plane above the Mississippi River, even turning it to the delight of those gathered on the Arch grounds.

The fair continues tonight and tomorrow.

Here's our previous story:

The sky above and the earth below at Fair St. Louis have not been the same since 2006. That's when the fair axed the air show and moved the party from the lush Gateway Arch grounds to that hot strip of concrete called Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard. St. Louisans grumbled, but their boundless love for skewered food kept them coming back.

This year, however, Fair St. Louis brings back the air show and welcomes revelers onto the Arch lawn, where they can spread out a blanket and enjoy their funnel cake.

"I didn't realize how much I missed the show until I started planning this year's," said Tim Jones, chairman of the Fair St. Louis Air Show Committee and a former Navy pilot. "There was a void. People love to sit there and watch people do amazing things. What better place than over the Mississippi River underneath the Arch?"

A souring economy plus new financial demands of Live on the Levee concerts forced organizers to cut the air show four years ago. Corporate sponsors stepped up this year — the fair's 30th anniversary — to bring back three air shows: a two-hour show at noon Saturday and 10:45 a.m. Sunday and a 90-minute show at 5:15 p.m. Sunday.

The highlight will be the return of the Harrier, which can take off and land vertically. Former Marine Art Nalls flies the only civilian-owned Royal Navy Sea Harrier. It's the second Sea Harrier manufactured and, at 31 years old, the oldest surviving one.

Civilian acts will include Red Bull Air Race pilot Kirby Chambliss, the Red Eagle Air Show, Matt Younkin and wing walkers.

"There will be a lot of small, very high-performance aircraft that do amazing things," Jones said. "I don't understand how these airplanes don't come apart, but they don't. A lot of these acts are old favorites here. All of these performers were thrilled we're turning the air show back on. There are very few urban landscapes where you can do this sort of show."

Military aircraft at the show will be an F-15 and the Black Daggers, a parachute jump team that will leap from a Lockheed C-130 onto the Arch grounds.

Fewer military aircraft will be here than in the past.

"The operational needs of the U.S. military today has made for a scarcity of military aircraft," Jones said.

Still, he promises that this year's spectacle will rival the shows of his childhood. That's when he would go to the fair with his father, also a Navy pilot.

"Air shows have a special place in my heart," Jones said. "I'll never forget coming here, and the planes would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up."

ALSO AT FAIR ST. LOUIS

K-Town Kids Zone

Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday • North end of the festival grounds • Free

K-Town boasts activities for kids of all ages, including a 20-foot Upper Limits climbing wall, inflatable games, face painting and arcade games. The K-Town Stage features performances from the Purina Incredible Dog Team, Ashleyliane Dance Company, Circus Harmony Performers, the St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders, Nick Gates Dance and YMCA CAPA Dancers.

Veiled Prophet Parade

10 a.m. Saturday • North Fourth Street and Washington Avenue, south to Market Street, then west to Union Station • vpparade.org

This year's march celebrates "A Night at the Movies," with professionally designed floats, nine giant helium balloons and 11 high school bands competing for $10,000 in prizes.

MORE FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS

Rockin' on the Landing

1-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday • Laclede's Landing • Free • lacledeslanding.com

This party features the Dental Health Theatre Kids Show at 1 p.m. Saturday followed by American Idle at 3 p.m. and Celebrity Mug Shots at 7:30. Michael Sonders Band performs at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by Powerplay at 5 p.m., and Memories of Elvis featuring Steve Davis with the Mid South Revival Band at 9.

Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park Independence Day Celebration

4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday • Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park, 185 West Trendley Avenue, East St. Louis • Free • meprd.org

The new, 43-foot-high Mississippi River Overlook offers views of the St. Louis riverfront and the Gateway Geyser, which shoots water 600 feet into the air.

O'Fallon (Mo.) Heritage & Freedom Fest

Today-Sunday • Ozzie Smith Sports Complex, 900 Ozzie Smith Drive • Free • heritageandfreedomfest.com

Darryl Worley and Chuck Wicks perform Saturday; Five For Fighting, Eve 6 and Toad the Wet Sprocket appear Sunday. Other entertainment includes carnival rides, a parade, craft vendors, and a kids area with balloon animals and large inflatables.

Webster Groves Community Days

Through Sunday • Memorial Park, 899 Colebrook Drive • Free • webstergroves.org

Annual bash features live music, a Miss Webster Groves contest, carnival midway, barbecue and nightly fireworks. Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday.

St. Charles Riverfest

Today-Sunday • Frontier Park • Free • stcharlescitymo.gov

Top U.S. pole vaulters compete Sunday in a U.S. Track & Field sanctioned event. Fireworks, parade, children's area and carnival rides are also featured.

Uncle Sam's Birthday Throwdown

Noon-9 p.m. Saturday • Benton Park • Free • bentonparkconcerts.eventbrite.com

Old-time July 4 party features a puppy kissing booth, a barbecue, petting zoo, pony rides, dunking booth, horseshoe and croquet tournaments, a fortune teller and a dog trick contest. Roosevelt High School Marching Band, the Rum Drum Ramblers and the Tommy Halloran Sextet all perform.

Ferguson Family Fun Festival

Noon Sunday • January Wabash Memorial Park, 501 North Florissant Road • Free • fergusoncity.com

Parade is followed by games, music, food and fireworks.

Bridgeton July 4th Celebration

6 p.m. Sunday • Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex, 13161 Taussig Road • Free • bridgetonmo.com

Trilogy preforms before the fireworks display.

Alton Fireworks on the Mississippi

7 p.m. today • Alton Riverfront Amphitheater, 1 Riverfront Drive • Free • visitalton.com

Pepperland and Back in the Saddle perform.

Ellisville Fourth of July Celebration

7:30 p.m. Sunday • Bluebird Park • Free • ellisville.mo.us

Sh-Boom performs.