Andy's Parties is a full-service children's party (best for ages three through 11) and event planning company. The basic party package includes games, music, a craft activity for every guest to take home, pizza, juice, cupcakes, ice cream, goodie bags, and a special gift for the birthday child. Set-up, cleanup, and all supplies are included, and the event is led by Andy's Parties staff members.

There are lots of ways to add on to or customize the basic package as well - theme parties (princess parties, safari parties, pirate parties, sports-themed parties, holiday parties, dance parties...), a magic show, balloons and other decorations, and more. Andy's Parties leads parties at your home or other venue, or can host in-store parties (up to 18 children).

Andy's Parties also offers enrichment classes for kids (ages birth through 10) - such as Mommy and Me Playgroup, Kaleidoscope Adventures Class, and Kaleidoscope Chronicles - plus classes from independent instructors such as KinderMusik and Abrakadoodle. Check the website for current classes.

Summer Themed Mini-Camps - five-day morning camps for children ages three to seven - are offered from the end of June through August. Themes include Pirates, Princesses, Dinosaurs, Safari Animals, and Mixed Themes Weeks. They fill up quickly, so check the website for registration information.

Andy's Parties is a full-service children's party (best for ages three through 11) and event planning company. The basic party package includes games, music, a craft activity for every guest to take home, pizza, juice, cupcakes, ice cream, goodie bags, and a special gift for the birthday child. Set-up, cleanup, and all supplies are included, and the event is led by Andy's Parties staff members.

There are lots of ways to add on to or customize the basic package as well - theme parties (princess parties, safari parties, pirate parties, sports-themed parties, holiday parties, dance parties...), a magic show, balloons and other decorations, and more. Andy's Parties leads parties at your home or other venue, or can host in-store parties (up to 18 children).

Andy's Parties also offers enrichment classes for kids (ages birth through 10) - such as Mommy and Me Playgroup, Kaleidoscope Adventures Class, and Kaleidoscope Chronicles - plus classes from independent instructors such as KinderMusik and Abrakadoodle. Check the website for current classes.

Summer Themed Mini-Camps - five-day morning camps for children ages three to seven - are offered from the end of June through August. Themes include Pirates, Princesses, Dinosaurs, Safari Animals, and Mixed Themes Weeks. They fill up quickly, so check the website for registration information.

Animal Ambassadors is an environmental educational outreach organization based in Loudon County, VA. It offers an educational program, perfect for birthday parties, that includes live animal meet-and-greets and information about the animals being presented.

Animals include reptiles and amphibians (snakes and toads), mammals (kinkajou, fennec fox, chinchilla, or coatimundi), invertebrates (giant African millipedes, scorpions, tarantula, or Madagascar hissing roaches), or birds (parrots, macaws, or cockatoos).

The well-known Barry's Magic Shop, owned and operated by professional magician Barry Taylor and his wife Susan since 1974, is one of the largest magic emporiums in the DC metro area. The shop maintains an impressive stock of magic-related books, videos, and props for the discriminating conjuror and carries a full range of magical supplies, including everything from the conjuring classics through the latest cutting-edge tricks on the market.

The Bella Bee Glamour Girl Workshop is a traveling Glamour Girl Workshop, great for birthday parties and more. Girls get to make up the outside with glitter and glamour while learning to also celebrate the positive characteristic pillars on the inside - the importance of beauty that comes from within.

Serving the Washington metro area since 1984, Biggo Productions specializes in entertainment for children. Founded by an educator, Biggo Productions features "Biggo the Clown" as well as magicians. Biggo Productions performs at parties, picnics, business promotions, and anywhere laughter is needed.

Blue Sky Puppet Theatre has been entertaining Washington-area children for 34 years. The touring company offers a wide range of family-friendly shows to suit almost any occasion, and brings performances to your venue, be it home, school, church, community center, or corporate picnic.

Blue Sky productions are filled with music and humor, and nearly all the shows have a moral and/or academic lesson. The company performs original shows about math, peaceful conflict resolution, and sharing. It even offers an updated version of the three little pigs in which the wolf is a vegetarian!

Call the office to ask for a list of shows or check out the website to see what the puppets look like and get an idea of which show will best suit your needs.

For more than 40 years, Bob Brown Puppets has been touring throughout the eastern and midwestern United States, performing shows for schools, libraries, theaters, parties, and more.

Two birthday shows, "Clowning Around" and "Kaleidoscope," offer entertainment specifically designed for youngsters between the ages of three and seven. The shows are in a variety show format rather than a story show format. Children sit on the floor in a large half circle while the puppeteers manipulate the marionettes within the open part of the circle. The puppets can actually walk right up to the children and sit in their laps. Children are invited to teach the clown how to roller-skate, push the clown on the flying trapeze, or catch the ball from the jolly juggler.

Have the Islands come to your kid's next party with the services of Braid Party and Princess Crowns. Children sit in a big pink chair and take turns getting their hair braided into crowns. It takes about 15 minutes per child and the braids last approximately two weeks. Henna body art is also available.

If you haven't been to a party with Broccoli the Clown or Jake the Magician, then you're sure to have seen either of them at any number of fairs, festivals, or other shows. On the DC scene for at least 25 years, Jake Stern knows how to entertain children of all ages, and their parents too! As Broccoli or the Magician, Jake can be booked for large events or parties, and uses his unique blend of comedy, magic, balloon sculpture, and audience participation to keep everyone laughing.

Catriona's Castle was created in 1988 as a unique children's theatre experience. A "Fairy Godmother" brings elaborate costumes (most are hand-crafted), small scale scenery, and unusual props to homes, schools, camps, or other locations, providing an interactive entertainment program with a fairytale or nursery rhyme theme.

The One Hour Theatre Birthday Party for 10-30 children costs $395 and includes an hour of interactive theatre, 30 costumes, 30 themed invitations, a special favor bag for the birthday child, and ten standard guest favors; additional favors can be added for a fee. Mother Goose and Goldilocks parties run 45 minutes and cost $25 less. A storybook theme cake can also be provided, for an additional fee.

Catriona's Castle also offers drama classes, for children ages three to 10. A four week session of one hour classes costs $70. The drama program is held at the Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market Street in Leesburg, Virginia, and can be reached by calling 703.771.5913.

Magician Louis Meyer's ChildTime Magic specializes in age-appropriate magic shows for children. Each show is tailored to the birthday child's age and interests, and features comedy magic, audience participation, live animals, balloon sculptures, and a magic trick for each child at the end of the show.

Donna Stivers, a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College Graduate and clown from the Big Apple Circus, provides silly birthday party entertainment, lasting approximately one hour. The magic show is geared to the age of the children and generally runs 20-30 minutes (shorter for younger children and longer for older children).

The birthday child, if willing, is dressed up as a magician and also does some magic. Stivers makes a special birthday balloon hat for the birthday child, and all the children at the party get a balloon - they can choose between their favorite animal or a balloon sword.

Stivers also offers face painting, hand painting, or temporary tattoos.

Come Play With Me theatre parties for kids offers several themed parties in your home. Gwen Garfinkle, kid wrangler and drama coach, runs the show.

The Culinary Kids Cooking School offers classes and parties to elementary and middle school age children in schools, community centers, churches, and homes in Baltimore and the surrounding area. Parties include set up and clean up, apron decorating, and of course preparing and eating a meal and dessert.

Dave Shepherd is not only an experienced children's entertainer - he's also a teacher, and he makes a special effort to empower kid audiences to be co-creators of the magical experience.

Dave performs in English or German... or both!

Decorate a Cupcake party hosts come to your home or party location and keep children entertained for 90 minutes decorating a yummy work of art and a gift box.

Enchanted Play offers themed parties and products for fundraising, birthday parties, proms, and bar/bat mitzvahs. Party themes include Build a Buddy, Princess Tea Party, Prima Ballerina, Teddy Bear and Me Tea Party, Rock Star, and more. All party packages include invitations for 10 children, sweet treats or 1/4 sheet cake, a theme craft for up to 10 children, a special gift for the guest of honor, and an Enchanted Play Specialist to coordinate the event.

One of the most popular children's performers in the area, The Banjo Man plays a number of regular gigs around town, as well as one-time shows at venues throughout the area - see our calendar for details - and is also available for parties.

Woony & Company offers face painting, balloon sculptors, and caricature artist services for birthday parties, festivals, school fairs, fundraisers, restaurant functions, corporate events, daycares, and more.

Glam Rock Art Airbrush Tattoos & Body Art specializes in airbrush temporary tattoos, airbrush face painting, and body art. They offer high quality temporary tattoos using FDA approved inks that last five days, and can last up to ten days with proper care.

Parents will be happy to know that the ink they use is non-allergenic, non-toxic, water-based, and all ingredients are FDA approved. The ink also dries instantly and is completely water proof in 30 minutes.

Headfirst provides summer camps, winter and spring break camps, year-round sports clinics, and after school programs.

Summer Day Camps for children ages three to 14 include Arts & Crafts, Dance, Swimming, Magic, Cooking, and Scientific Discovery. Sports Summer Camps for children ages four to 14 include Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Dance, and Soccer. Headfirst also offers overnight summer camps for kids ages nine to 18. Its well-known, national college recruiting showcase camps are unparalleled.

Baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and basketball clinics are offered, as well as coaching for individual and team instruction, and year-round recreational and travel sports leagues for both young athletes and adults.

Jonathan Austin is an award winning entertainer, with a party repertoire that includes juggling, magic, unicycling, and lots of comedy and audience participation. His shows are custom tailored to fit your needs.

Since 1972, Kaydee Puppets has toured Virginia, DC, and Maryland with a variety of wonderful puppet shows, all featuring large mouth puppets. Each 30 minute performance is live to allow for spontaneous audience interaction and participation. Productions include The Three Pigs, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Sleepy Beauty, and more. There is also a special show called The Colonial Connection, which serves as an introduction to, or review of, America's early happenings. During December, Kaydee Puppets also performs Annie Bear Visits Santa's Workshop for holiday parties and events.

Kaydee Puppets offers a variety of workshops for schools, group parties/picnics, and adults, covering topics such as how to have fun with puppets and how to be a puppeteer. Birthday party shows are also offered, at the location of your choice. They include a 30-minute performance (choose two of the available shows), followed by time for children to ask questions and meet the puppets.

Little Steps Music provides group and individual therapeutic treatment for developmentally delayed children and Music Together classes (for newborn through age six), an informal music education program for children and their families. In addition to these classes, private musical entertainment that follows the Music Together curriculum is available for parties.

Lyau's Luau Show offers a Hawaiian Style Luau Show for parties and special events, including a variety of dances, costumes, and Fire Poi from the Polynesian Islands of Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand.

The wacky scientists of Mad Science add a whole new dimension to birthday parties.

Prepare for a 45- to 60-minute, high-energy party filled with chemical magic, laser lights, glow-in-the-dark reactions and other excitement. Possible activities for your bash include watching the Mad Scientist mysteriously "melt" Styrofoam; watching objects float through columns of air; listening as a film canister creates more noise than you could possibly imagine; making your own long and stretchy Mad Science Putty to keep; learning the "secrets" behind fireworks; making oooey, gooey slime; watching water take on an eerie green glow; or discovering sand that is actually scared of water.

Lawrence the Magician offers a variety of magical experiences for all audiences. For children's parties, he performs a one hour show with Parlor Magic, a combination of stage and close up magic, and turns the guest of honor into a Master Magician. The event features lots of audience participation, including teaching a trick to the whole group and free origami for each child. Lawrence can also perform as Lawr the Wizard, with wizard type of magic, for the Harry Potter enthusiasts and fairy princess and King Arthur fans.

Magician Mike Perrello provides an affordable, family magic show, including a live dove and a wide variety of tricks guaranteed to astonish and amaze. All shows are custom designed for the appropriate age. The birthday child receives a free gift (age appropriate) and every child receives a free prize.

Mr. Knick Knack, one of the area's best-loved children's musicians, was born and raised in Northern Virginia. With just his guitar and his voice he plays upbeat - and uplifting - music centered around the power of the human heart.

Mr. Knick Knack has regular gigs at malls, theaters, children's stores, and other venues in Virginia and Maryland - see our calendar for details - and is also available for birthday parties, special occasions, and school and daycare center performances.

Silly, yet warm, Mr. Skip is a singer/songwriter and recording artist of music for young children with a strong background in early childhood development. He's been educating and enlightening for over 20 years at child care centers, preschools, festivals, fairs, libraries, bookstores, concert stages, and birthday parties, as well as conducting workshops for many state and local child care associations.

Music Together Montgomery which has been providing music and movement classes for parents/caregivers and children (from birth through age four) since 1997, and is committed to bringing the pleasure and value of informal, non-performance-oriented musical experiences to families with young children in this community.

Classes are 45 minutes long, and include songs, rhythmic rhymes, movement, and instrument play (take-home CDs and a songbook are also included). The basic class is for children from birth through Kindergarten and their families.

This totally improvised musical children's theatre, Now This!, hosts birthday parties at Blair Mansion or in your own home.

The cast takes the audience's ideas and instantly turns them into songs, comic sketches, and musical fairy tales. The cast interviews birthday children and makes up a personal birthday song about each one.

Now This! also performs regularly at the Arlington Cinema 'N Drafthouse.

Popular DC children's performer Susan McNelis' Oh Susannah fun-filled, one-hour birthday party routine can include group participation songs and sing-alongs, rockin' rhythm instruments, movement to music, acoustic guitar accompaniment, puppets and parachute games, simple magic tricks, balloon sculptures, and face painting.

Activities are designed to suit the age and interests of the child. Call six weeks in advance for the most flexible scheduling.

For a sneak preview - or for a party favor or memento - Susannah's CDs can be purchased at www.CDBaby.com

Princess Elizabeth brings princess stories, crafts, and songs to your child's princess party. Children can listen to princess stories, make their own tiaras or wands, sing princess songs, get their faces painted, and delight in a visit from a real live princess. Elizabeth has an MA in theater education from NYU and is an accomplished actress, educator, and performer.

Ralph the Great is a full-time, professional entertainer who specializes in children's shows that feature magic, comedy, music, audience participation, and zany antics.

For birthday parties, Ralph the Great performs a fast-paced comedy show that gets all of the kids involved and makes the birthday child the star! The birthday child gets lots of magical birthday gifts including a multi-colored Ralph the Great Top Hat; all kids receive goodies. To wrap up, Ralph plays a hilarious rendition of Happy Birthday on his inflatable electric guitar.

Ralph also tours schools performing the Pro-Kids Show, a motivational, character-building program using music, magic, comedy, and audience involvement to teach students the importance of honesty, respect, self-esteem, cooperation, and responsibility. Visit http://www.prokidsdc.com for more information.

Popular local band Rocknoceros, which bills itself as a "power trio for children," plays a couple of regular gigs in Virginia as well as one-time shows at venues throughout the area - see our calendar for details - and is also available for parties.