A-Bash Entertainment provides party entertainment with costumed characters such as Spiderman, Barney the Purple Dinosaur, Dora, and many others, plus clowns and face painters. Each character comes with his or her own theme music and activities. A-Bash specializes in same-day arrangements for those last-minute party emergencies.

From clowns and magicians to princess tea parties and face painting, from jugglers and comedians to super heroes and other costumed characters, ABC has it all. Party packages with entertainers can last from 45 minutes to two hours.

Available for rental are moonwalks, snow cone machines, pony and camel rides, climbing walls, and toy fire trucks and choo-choo trains.

The folks at ABC - and their clowns - also speak Spanish.

Beyond Baby Academics offers products, parties, and private sessions to help new and expecting parents. The Kinder Secret is a book filled with tips on creating little geniuses, enjoying motherly playtime, and more.

The birthday party package - Kinder Secret Playtime - consists of selective rhymes, songs, movements, "babyize" language, and one book for the hosting family. (Each parent must be involved; this is not a parent breaktime.)

Beyond Baby Academics also offers a baby shower package which includes some Kinder Secret advice, an introduction to "babyize" language, one book for the mom-to-be, and some selective toys.

Parents can also set up private sessions at their homes featuring advice on how to follow The Kinder Secret, demonstrations on how to better arrange selective toys around the house, tips on how to speak "babyize," and more.

Birthday Wishes & Fairytale Dreams provides entertainment for boys' and girls' birthday parties. Themes include pirates, race cars, dinosaurs, princesses, fairies, Hawaiian luau, and more.

Since 1977, David and Carol Carranza have been bringing quality marionette and hand puppet shows to children.

Birthday parties include a 30-minute hand puppet show with an additional marionette variety act. Choose between The Three Little Pigs or The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood, and the Carranzas bring the show to your home, your child's classroom, or a place of your choice (indoors only).

Carranza Puppets also travels to libraries, day care centers, and elementary school assemblies.

Creative Connections offers fine arts classes for children in dance, drama, art, yoga, creative movement, and motor skills. Classes are available for infants to fifth graders at various venues throughout the greater Houston area. Call or visit the website for current locations and schedules.

Creative Connections also offers day camps and birthday party packages.

Ask about the schedule of free demo classes.

Diva Dreamz offers the ultimate girly-girl party for your birthday princess or diva. Party packages are fully inclusive, from invitations to party favors, with themes such as Pop Star Diva, Pajama Jamz, Princess Tea Party, and more.

Extra options available include themed cookies, custom candy bar wrappers, specialty cakes, a punch fountain, fruit trays, and sandwiches.

For girls who want a dress-up party and parents who want convenience, Dress Me Up! brings the glitz and glam to your own home. The 1-1/2 hour party package includes dress up, makeovers, a red-carpet fashion show, and group games with prizes for all.

Knight and pirate costumes are available for boy guests.

Serving Galveston County, the Clear Lake Area, Alvin, Pearland, LaPorte, Deer Park, and Baytown. Also availible outside the Bay Area, but travel fees may apply.

The shows produced by Dress-Up Shows have been featured at fairs, festivals, and theme parks throughout Texas and other states. Themed dress-up shows at schools, libraries, and other venues invite children to be the stars of the show, including Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, which features five acts with up to 30 kids in each. The Pirates Ahoy show allows kids to dress up like pirates and fight off a shark attack, with up to 20 kids per show.

Birthday parties with the pirate show allow kids to get loot (party favors) from the treasure chest, while singing pirate songs, playing games, and more.

Enchanted Friends sends your child's favorite princess characters to the party, perfectly adorned in gorgeous costumes. Visits include a princess concert, photos, and a tiara for the birthday girl. The basic party visit lasts 30 - 45 minutes. A dress-up trunk and mini-makeovers can also be added to the package.

Enchanted Friends also offers fully hosted princess tea parties at Kennedy Dance Theater in Webster.

Fiesta Time Moonwalks Houston delivers and sets up giant inflatables, including moonwalks and slip 'n' slides, for birthday parties or other special events. Reservations can be made by phone, email, or online.

A sno-cone machine, bubble machine, and tables and chairs are also available for rental.

For a real birthday party blast, Foam Rox sets up a large, square pit with inflatable walls and shoots foam out of a cannon, covering kids better than a giant bubble bath. Kids - OK, and the grown-ups - can play, dance, and splash in piles and piles of foam. The foam pit is 20 feet by 20 feet, so make sure you've got plenty of yard space. Or have the party at a nearby park, because Foam Rox brings its equipment to your location of choice.

The foam is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and harmless to clothes, grass, and plants. We found that even a bear-hug from a foam-covered kid doesn't leave the grown-up sopping wet; the foam dries off quickly and easily.

Foam Rox also offers a 30-foot, two-lane, inflatable slip 'n' slide, which is not only tons of fun, but also a great way to rinse off the foam.

Prices: The foam pit costs $340 for the first hour, $125 for each additional hour. The slip 'n' slide costs $75 per hour with the foam pit, or - by itself - $200 for four hours, $375 for eight hours.

For events over 20 miles from I-10 West (Katy Freeway) and Beltway 8, Foam Rox adds a $25 service charge, plus mileage. Rentals are also available for school fairs, church festivals, or any other large gathering.

Fun Princess Parties provides quality character entertainment for children ages three to 12, offering a variety of custom-tailored party packages. The princess or other character comes to your party location of choice throughout the greater Houston area. A travel fee may be assessed.

Fairytale Adventures sends a princess character to entertain at birthday parties or other special events. Party packages include glamour sparkly sessions, games with prizes, dancing, magic, and more with an experienced professional children's entertainer.

Puppeteer Jean Kuecher offers productions with hand-crafted marionettes performing on a majestic stage complete with drapes, lighting, and sound. The small stage is geared for smaller audiences at birthday parties, preschools, and libraries, while the large stage provides easy visibility for audiences of up to 400 at schools or other locations.

Kids Party Rental offers clowns, games, and moonwalks.

KidStage is an afterschool drama program for kids ages four and up, including high school students. Classes meet once a week for 12 weeks and end in a final showcase performance. Classes are held at Kids in Action in Kingwood.

The program can help to build kids' reading skills, vocabulary, teamwork abilities, and leadership skills in a creative environment.

KidStage hosts one-day summer workshops as well. Call or visit the website for locations and schedules.

KidStage also offers birthday party entertainment by performing a drama workshop for your child and their friends. An instructor comes to your home or other location and engages the party goers with theater games, exercises, improvisation, and mask making. Afterwards, the children can even put on a skit variety show. Pricing is $75 for 1 hour ($50 for each additional 30 minutes).

Singer-songwriter Leah White plays music for kids that parents can actually enjoy also, including original songs like Car Seat Blues and Dead Armadillo. Available at birthday parties, schools, and other venues, Leah tailors her performances to children's specific age groups.

Contact Leah through email for further details or to arrange an appointment.

For a princess party in your own home (or park, or other location of choice), Little Princess for a Day brings everything you need for themed parties such as Royal Princess, Rock Star Princess, Pretty Princess, and Spa Princess. Packages may include makeovers, accessories, dress-up, and photos (for an additional charge).

Party-goers also play games, sing karaoke, learn dances, and receive a free gift bag with five gifts. After the party, guests can shop through the princess suppplies and purchase anything they'd like. For an additional fee, the party can be run by a Princess Hostess of your choice - Snow White, Beauty, Little Mermaid, or Cinderella.

Boys' packages are also available for budding rock stars, knights, kings, or pirates.

Parties last 30 minutes to three hours. There is no transportation charge for anywhere within 20 miles of League City; 75 cents per mile beyond that 20-mile range.

Mad Science is on a mission to get kids excited about science through hands-on fun and activities.

Mad Science offers birthday parties for groups of any size, ideal for children ages five to 12. A Mad Scientist comes to your house and presents a 45-minute show, complete with science experiments that appeal to kids' penchant for goo, pop, and fizz. A variety of 15-minute "finales" are available for an extra charge, featuring dry ice, a laser show, a sound machine, or a rocket launch.

Prices for a basic party are $175 for up to 15 children, $195 (16-25 children), $215 (26-35 children), or $235 (36-45 children). Fifteen-minute finales are $25 each, with a maximum of two.

For children ages eight to 12, Rocket Building Parties are $200 for fewer than nine kids, or $24.95 per child for nine kids or more.

Other options, for an additional charge, include a cotton candy machine, goody bags, party favors, t-shirts, invitations, and decorations.

Mad Science also offers summer camps at multiple locations throughout the Houston area. Camps run weekly from Jun through Aug, including full-day camps for children ages six to 12, and half-day camps for ages three to five. Registration and other information are available online.

Mad Science suggests booking four to six weeks in advance to make sure you get your choice of dates, times, and finales.

Merry Makers offers kids' party entertainment all over the greater Houston area, serving any size party starting from small private parties to big events. Parties can include balloons, face painting, and costumed characters such as pirates, clowns, and princesses.

Merry Makers also provides free storytime, games, face painting, and balloon animals at several fast food restaurants and other venues throughout the area. For more information, visit the website and click "Free Events."

With over 20 years of experience, Philip Kampf ("Mr. Phil") has entertained hundreds of children with the joys and mysteries of magic.

Birthday party packages run from 30 minutes to 2-1/2 hours. The shorter shows involve magic acts, audience participation, and stand-up comedy, while the longer shows also include white doves, a bunny rabbit, a game of Follow the Leader, and Mr. Phil reading the birthday cards during the opening of presents.

Summer Magic Camp, for children ages nine and up, is held in Mr. Phil's studio, located at his residence on two acres, in Channelview (about 30 minutes from downtown Houston). One-week camps run all day, Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, for $500, which includes $250 worth of professional magic supplies. Classes are limited to six students, so they fill up quickly.

Parent-teacher groups can add Mr. Phil's Beginning Magic for Kids to your school's afterschool program for groups of 10-25 students, 2nd grade and up.

Mr. Phil's website also includes an online magic shop suitable for kids.

Noah's Ark Workshop is a traveling "stuff-n-fluff" animal workshop that comes to you. Children create hand-stuffed animals and dress them in outfits. Activities generally take 45 minutes to one hour.

Party packages also include invitations and thank you notes. Workshops can be arranged for birthdays, day care centers, summer camps, girl scouts, and other gatherings.

Bella Bee is a traveling glamour girl workshop for parties. Visit the website for further details.

Noah's Ark Workshop is a traveling "stuff-n-fluff" animal workshop that comes to you. Children create hand-stuffed animals and dress them in outfits. Activities generally take 45 minutes to one hour.

Party packages also include invitations and thank you notes. Workshops can be arranged for birthdays, day care centers, summer camps, girl scouts, and other gatherings.

Bella Bee is a traveling glamour girl workshop for parties. Visit the website for further details.

Noah's Ark Workshop is a traveling "stuff-n-fluff" animal workshop that comes to you. Children create hand-stuffed animals and dress them in outfits. Activities generally take 45 minutes to one hour.

Party packages also include invitations and thank you notes. Workshops can be arranged for birthdays, day care centers, summer camps, girl scouts, and other gatherings.

Bella Bee is a traveling glamour girl workshop for parties. Visit the website for further details.

Noah's Ark Workshop is a traveling "stuff-n-fluff" animal workshop that comes to you. Children create hand-stuffed animals and dress them in outfits. Activities generally take 45 minutes to one hour.

Party packages also include invitations and thank you notes. Workshops can be arranged for birthdays, day care centers, summer camps, girl scouts, and other gatherings.

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.

Parties can be held on site or at your location of choice.

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

Puppet Pizzazz has life-size and larger-than-life puppets to entertain at parties and school shows.

Santa-N-Clown can send a clown or Santa Claus (with or without Mrs. Claus) to your child's birthday party. Activities can include face painting, balloon animals, storytelling, games, music, and more.

Science Quest provides 45-minute science shows that include songs, animals, and experiments. Special party themes can include Hot Wheel Parties, a Slimarama Party, and Hovercraft rides. Science Quest can come to your home or other party location, as long as there is electricity and access to water.

Trixie Bond presents a comedy-magic show that gets the kids involved and makes the birthday child the star. The show includes music, doves, a bunny rabbit, and more. She is also available to greet guests as they arrive, to perform close-up magic tricks.