ST. LOUIS–(KMOX)–From beneath shade trees along small town parade routes to the sunlit Arch grounds beneath of hovering Harrier jet, people are celebrating the 4th — despite the heat.

A smaller than usual crowd attending Fair St. Louis this afternoon craned their sunburned necks to watch stunt planes twirling smoke, a P-51 Mustang streaking over the treetops and the big, bad Harrier belching black smoke from its belly as it defied gravity.

A second air show is planned for 3:30, followed by musical acts and fire works.

Ryan and Thomas Clark at Webster Groves 4th of July parade

Meanwhile, to the west in the tree-shaded suburb of Webster Groves, hundreds sat in lawn chair watching the annual parade of corvettes, clydesdales, pom-pom girls and the high school marching band.

Webster is one of several communities going without fireworks tonight, because of the extreme dry conditions.  (The temperature this afternoon is 102.)    But residents seemed to understand the precaution, several saying they understand the risk just by looking at their brown lawns.

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