Are you looking for entertainment for a kids' party? Consider hiring Tom Knight to come to your house for a small version of the Tom Knight Puppet show.  It's a lot like the show he does for larger audiences, but with more participation, and special requests. Contact Tom to find out prices and availability. Range of travel: Pioneer Valley, Western Mass, or Boston, but willing to travel farther if he can coordinate it with other shows.

Things to keep in mind for a successful party with Tom Knight:

Age: Kids 4 years old and older, but 3-year olds are OK if the kids are very familiar with Tom's music.

How long is the show?: Usually about 45 - 50 minutes.

Location:   It's usually best to have the concert inside, so there are fewer distractions.

Participation: The concert works best if the adults can participate too.

Scheduling Tom: It works well to schedule Tom about 30 minutes after the starting time of the party, before the cake and presents.

Set-up Time: Allow 60 minutes for Tom to set up.
Payment: No deposit necessary.  Please pay the day of the performance (check or cash is OK.)

Cameras: Video cameras and snapshots are fine!
Another alternative to presents: Does the birthday child already have plenty of stuff? Here's an idea from a birthday party I attended.
Other resources:

A fun NPR audio clip about planning a birthday party for a 2 year old