The Dallas Puppet Theater is a non-profit organization celebrating more than 20 years of promoting and advancing the performing, visual, and creative art of puppetry in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

The puppetry troupe presents family performances, workshops, and outreach programs throughout the area.

The Dallas Puppet Theater is also available for birthday party entertainment.

Can you say silly? David Chicken is an entertainer with an endless amount of energy, a positive message, and funny lyrics that kids love.

Along with his side-kick wonderdog, Super Chachie, David Chicken encourages audience participation and makes the kids the stars of the show. Performing original songs like Brusha Yo Teeth, Doggy Walk, and Scakle Time, the most requested dance is, of course, the chicken dance.

David Chicken appeals primarily to children up to about eight years old - but a few silly fifth grade boys have been known to Scakle, too.

Energetic and eccentric, Eddie Coker fits the bill for kid and family entertainment. Popular with the elementary school circuit, his perfectly positive messaging within his music makes him a hero with the parent set.

Not only does Eddie perform at parties and other special functions, he also has an extensive show schedule. His CDs are available for sale on his website.

Face Painting by Linda offers professional-quality face painting at birthday parties and other events. The artist can come to your party location of choice.

FacePaint.ws offers face painting and hand painting at birthday parties. The face painting artist also shows up around the area on weekends to paint faces and hand puppets for free; call or email for upcoming locations.

James Wand's Secret Agent Magic Show is a comedy magic show that gets the audience involved in the "secret agent" theme. At the end of the show, all the birthday guests receive a free gift.

The Mavs Man is the official mascot of the Dallas Mavericks and can entertain school groups or other large gatherings with a spectacular (although short) program.

Mavs Man can also make birthday party appearances. Among the options is a "dunking package," which includes a slam-dunk performance, interaction with party guests, autograph signing, and picture posing. This package costs $500.

For a mere $300, Mavs Man can show up and mingle with your guests, sign autographs, and pose for pictures.

Appearances can range from 10-30 minutes depending on your party schedule, and all parties include party favors and a special gift for the birthday child.

Mr. Willy brings his guitar and a bagful of puppets to entertain children with songs, sing-a-longs, stories, laughter, and puppets. Mr. Willy has 15 years of experience in performing for kids at child care centers and birthday parties.

Music Together Dallas brings the internationally recognized early childhood music program to Dallas. Classes are designed for parents/caregivers and their infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and special needs children. Birthday party gatherings are also available.

Learning, laughter, and love are the main ingredients for an entertainment experience with Nana Puddin' Productions.

Headed up by Dennis Lee, a family-oriented ventriloquist, Nana Puddin' performs for church groups, schools, and special events. Children (especially grade-school aged) are capitvated by the puppetry performances and come home with a non-stop narrative about the hysterical antics. Wonderful life-lessons are interjected as an added bonus.

Each 45-minute show includes music, comedy, and a custom message designed for your group. Popular themes are drug awareness, self respect, consequences of choices, respect, and responsibility.

Oogles n Googles offers unique, all-inclusive themed birthday party rental packages for kids ages three to 10. Two Oogles n Googles staffers lead two hours of party activities, taking care of all the details from set-up to clean up. Fifteen different age-appropriate themes are available, including Teddy Bear Tea parties for little ones, up to I Spy Detective School parties for older kids.

Packages include invitations and thank-you notes, themed party favors, paper and plasticware, souvenir photos, and more.

Silly Shindigs provides interactive birthday entertainment with themes that include superheroes, trains, pirates, cowgirl/boy, sports, and more.

The Dress Up Lady specializes in theme and costumed character parties.

The Teddy Bear Pound is a mobile pound traveling the Metroplex with a wide variety of teddy bears in need of "rescue." Preschoolers, kindergartners, and party-goers can learn ways to help save the earth in a lively atmosphere with music, dance, video, and hands-on activities. The Pound's motto is "Rescue a teddy bear, help save a polar bear" - a portion of all rescue fees are donated to the National Wildlife Federation to help save the polar bears.

Parties with twelve or more bears receive a 20% discount.

Westland Ranch is a traveling pony ride, trackless train, and petting zoo company, serving the entire Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Zooniversity bills itself as "the teaching zoo that comes to you," featuring exotic animal education shows for kids ages three and up. Parties can include balloon animals and photo sittings.