Chicago Singing Telegrams, Chicago

At Singing Telegrams, the artists know that balloons are more fun if they have turned into puppies. They specialize in twisting inflatables into animal shapes, as well as tri-colored braids, holiday wreaths, and balloon hats––a fashionable alternative to earmuffs made of two normal balloons.

However, balloon sculpture isn't the team's only form of party art. They paint faces too—up to 20 an hour, with designs ranging from pirate eyepatches to Spiderman's blue-and-red mask. In addition, their singing telegrams brighten humdrum days with festive tunes performed by singers dressed as chickens, gorillas, or bananas.