Community-Inspired Public Art in Downtown Howell
The stories, places, traditions, and memories shared by the community, reflected back through art.
Created by ART Doing Good, "Reflections" invites people to discover what makes Howell special, connect with local stories and organizations, and find meaningful ways to be part of the community.
"Reflections" is a living portrait of Howell created from the stories, memories, and experiences shared by the community.
Inspired by community input gathered throughout the project, the mural reflects the places, traditions, landmarks, and experiences that people said define Howell. From seasonal celebrations and historic buildings to everyday moments downtown, each element was chosen because it represents something people value and continue to enjoy today.
Together, these images form a portrait of a community shaped by connection, memory, and place. They serve as an open invitation to explore downtown Howell, discover its stories, and experience the people, events, and traditions that make it unique.
Explore the details below to learn more about the inspiration behind each part of the mural.
1 Balloonfest
You can be halfway through a conversation in Howell when someone suddenly stops and points to the sky. A balloon floating overhead has a way of getting everyone's attention. Kids jumping and pointing from the t-ball field. Drivers glancing out their windows. For a few moments, whatever was happening can wait. Then comes Balloonfest. For one weekend each June, balloons take over Howell. And while the launches are incredible, locals know the Balloon Glow is where the real magic happens. As darkness falls, the crowd counts down and suddenly the field comes alive with color. The fire from the burners, the balloons glowing against the deep blue evening sky, and their sheer size up close create a sight never gets old, no matter how many times you've seen it. The balloons featured in the mural are all based in Howell and represent the pilots, crews, and traditions that have made Balloonfest part of the community for generations.
2 Melon Festival
One of Howell's favorite local legends tells of a traveler who exchanged melon seeds for a meal, helping inspire the story behind the famous Howell melon. According to research preserved by the Howell Carnegie District Library Archives, the exact origins of the Howell Honey Sweet melon remain the subject of debate, with several versions of the story passed down through generations. What is certain is that the melon became a source of community pride and inspired the creation of the Howell Melon Festival in 1960. Today, the festival remains one of Howell's most beloved traditions, bringing residents and visitors together each August to celebrate community, summer, and hometown memories. Melon Festival weekend serves as an unofficial homecoming, drawing former students, families, and friends back to downtown Howell year after year. When people were asked what belonged in a mural about Howell, melons came up again and again, second only to hot air balloons.
3 Fantasy of Lights
In Howell, the holiday season starts the Friday after Thanksgiving. By morning, chairs are already lining Grand River. Friends meet up downtown. Cleary's Pub fills early. Most years, a few snowflakes swirl through the air along with the anticipation of what's coming. Santa and his reindeer greet children while carolers sing on the library lawn and across the street volunteers from First Presbyterian Church hand out hot cocoa. As night falls, runners covered in lights and holiday costumes make their way through downtown before the parade begins. Then come the glowing floats, marching bands with instruments wrapped in lights, and thousands of people gathered along the route. The horses in the mural were inspired by a memorable Fantasy of Lights appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales. For many who were there, it remains one of the parade's most unforgettable moments. We packed the sidewalks shoulder to shoulder for a glimpse as the famous horses made their way down Grand River. The night ends at the courthouse lawn. The crowd counts down together, Santa flips the switch, and the Christmas tree lights up for the holiday season.
4 Concerts at the Courthouse
On Friday nights in July and August, the courthouse lawn becomes one of the best places to spend a summer evening in Howell. Some people arrive with lawn chairs. Others come carrying ice cream from Dairy Queen or after dinner at a downtown restaurant. Before long, familiar faces begin appearing from every direction. Friends stop to talk. Kids run through the grass. Someone you haven't seen in months suddenly pulls up a chair nearby. As the sun begins to set over downtown, music drifts across the courthouse lawn. Some people dance. Others simply sit back and enjoy the evening. The concerts are sponsored by the Howell Opera House, but for many people, they're just as much about community as they are about music. They're one of those summer traditions that remind us how good it feels to spend an evening together.
5 Thompson Lake
Just a few blocks from downtown, Thompson Lake offers something many communities don't have: a chance to trade busy streets for open water in just a matter of minutes. Some people launch a boat. Others slip a kayak or paddle board into the water or spread out picnic blankets along the shore while walkers make their way along the trail, taking in the view. It's a place to slow down for an hour, catch a sunrise or sunset, or simply enjoy being outside. Whether you're on the water or beside it, it's easy to forget you're only a few blocks from downtown.
6 Howell Carnegie District Library
Many Carnegie libraries disappeared. Howell's didn't. Built in 1906, the Howell Carnegie District Library was constructed using fieldstones gathered from farms throughout Livingston County. The land was donated by the McPherson family, whose generosity provided not only a home for the library, but room for it to grow alongside the community. That foresight made a lasting difference. While many Carnegie libraries were abandoned, repurposed, or replaced, Howell's remains in its original downtown location more than a century later. Today, the library continues to serve all ages and is home to the Howell Area Archives, where photographs, documents, and stories help preserve the history of the community.
7 The Alley
What was once a simple alley between downtown buildings has become one of Howell's favorite gathering places. Created and cared for by downtown merchants, The Alley transforms throughout the year with seasonal decorations, lights, flowers, and displays that invite people to slow down and enjoy the moment. It's become a favorite stop for photos, senior portraits, and visitors exploring downtown. Many grab a treat from M Street Baking Co. before wandering through, meeting friends, or seeing what's new since their last visit. Today, The Alley is one of those places people make a point to visit whenever they're downtown.
8 Bennett Field
If you grew up playing baseball in Howell, chances are you spent some time at Bennett Field. The sound of baseball cleats crunching across gravel. The smell of freshly cut grass. The excitement of playing under the lights for the first time. And you definitely remember the train. Every kid who stepped into the batter's box when a train was rolling past the outfield dreamed about the same thing, crushing a home run over the fence and into one of those passing rail cars. The Mugg & Bopps sign shown in the mural reflects Bennett Field today. A longtime supporter of Howell Junior Baseball, Mugg & Bopps is helping keep this field part of the next generation of baseball memories. Today, you can still catch a game, hear the whistle in the distance, and watch the train roll by.
9 Legend of Sleepy Howell
What started as a release party for the fifth Harry Potter book at a downtown bookstore has grown into one of Howell's favorite fall traditions. For one Saturday each October, downtown belongs to kids in costumes. The streets fill with superheroes, princesses, witches, and characters that are impossible to identify. Games pop up along the sidewalks. The courthouse lawn fills with pumpkins, hay bales, and music. Everywhere you look, there's something happening. And then there's the Headless Horseman. Runners gather for the Headless Horseman 5K, and before long the Headless Horseman appears, leading the race through downtown on horseback. It's one of those sights that never gets old.
10 The Courthouse
No matter where you are downtown, it's hard to lose sight of the courthouse clock tower. Completed in 1890, the Livingston County Courthouse has been at the center of community life for generations. The land was donated by Peter and Maria Cowdry, and the clock overlooking downtown was a gift from local citizens. By the 1970s, the future of the courthouse was uncertain. Rather than replace it, community members chose to restore and preserve the building, ensuring it would remain part of downtown Howell for generations to come. Today, the courthouse lawn serves as a gathering place for many of the traditions featured throughout this mural, from Concerts at the Courthouse and Fantasy of Lights to community celebrations throughout the year. The courthouse stands as a reminder that preserving the places we love takes intention, investment, and a community willing to protect them.
11 The Howell Opera House
For decades, one of Howell's greatest treasures was hiding above a hardware store. The Howell Opera House opened in 1881 as a place for performances, speeches, dinners, graduations, and community gatherings. Then, in 1924, the theater was closed by the fire marshal. The first floor continued as a hardware store for generations while the upper theater sat quietly above Grand River, used mostly for storage and nearly forgotten by many who passed beneath it. In its early years, a window in the balcony offered a view of the train depot. As trains arrived, people could watch passengers make their way up Walnut Street toward the Opera House and get a sense of how full the night's performance might be. Today, the building is coming back to life through the work of the Livingston Arts Council. Concerts, exhibits, fundraisers, performances, and community events once again fill the space. In 2025, audiences returned to the historic upstairs stage for a production of The Pirates of Penzance, a milestone moment in the ongoing restoration of the Opera House. Look closely and you'll spot details from the front of the historic Opera House stage woven into the mural, a small tribute to a building that's still writing new chapters in Howell's story.
12 The Depot with Fire & Ice
Long before most people arrived in Howell by car, they arrived by train. The historic depot was built in 1886 and served generations of travelers passing through the community. Today, it operates as a museum preserving artifacts, photographs, and stories from Howell's past. The trains still pass by, but the area around the depot is entering a new chapter. The Fire & Ice District is transforming the surrounding space into a year-round gathering place with skating in the winter, community events in the summer, and new opportunities to bring people together. It's a place where Howell's history and future meet on the same piece of ground.
Look Closer
Hidden among the bricks are a few of the inspiring messages community members shared during the public input process, along with many other details woven throughout the mural. Some you'll recognize immediately. Others might take a little searching. From local landmarks and businesses to traditions, memories, and inside references, there is more here than first meets the eye.
Take your time. The longer you look, the more you'll find.
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What is ART Doing Good?
ART Doing Good is a nonprofit using community-inspired art to share local stories, strengthen community connections, and help people discover ways to get involved.
Through murals and creative projects, we gather ideas and inspiration from the community and transform them into public artwork created by different artists. Each installation is designed to reflect the spirit of Howell while connecting people to local nonprofits, community events, and opportunities to make a difference.
ART Doing Good is working in partnership with Founding Partner, Rotary Club of Howell, and Visionary Partners: Explore Brighton Howell Area, the City of Howell, Bank of Ann Arbor Livingston, Mugg & Bopps and Livingston County United Way.
Additional support has come from the Howell Carnegie District Library, the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce.
Our mission is to use community-inspired art to share stories and inspire generosity.