As the County Seat, the City of Howell is centrally located within Livingston County.   The City was first known as Livingston Center. It was platted in 1835 by a group of settlers from Detroit, and it was later incorporated in 1863.

​

The Howell Area offers many events and festivals throughout the year.  Here is a quick guide to four main festivals in our Howell Area. The Downtown Howell welcomes the weekly Sunday Farmers’ Market, which runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the first Sunday in May to the last in October.

​

The market features the finest in locally grown produce, bedding plants, flowers, homemade goods and crafts. It’s all set against the backdrop of the historical Livingston County Courthouse and downtown Howell, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Weekly entertainment and the energetic ambience of Howell’s downtown give the market a mini-festival atmosphere.

​

The Michigan Challenge Balloonfest is a community and family event. This  event is one of the premier summertime activities in Michigan, offering  entertainment for the entire family. With balloon fly-in and launch events to an arts festival, carnival, skydiving team, stunt kites, live entertainment, and so much more, the Michigan Challenge Balloonfest. 

 

The Howell Melon Festival, held in downtown Howell since 1960, is a great family-friendly Howell tradition, celebrating the famed, delicious cantaloupe grown only in Howell.  The Annual Howell Melon Festival, draws over 20,000 visitors, is hosted by the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority, the Howell Downtown Development Authority and the City of Howell.  A new footprint for the Festival allows the entire stretch of Grand River Avenue in downtown Howell to be closed and walkable for this dynamic weekend event.  New and traditional attractions are featured, including the Howell Melon Run, classic train rides, Melon Ice Cream, a classic car show, live entertainment and demonstrations, Doc May’s Commemorative Melon Ride, kids’ game area, delicious food and beverages, and over 200 sidewalk, art, and non-profit vendors! 

 

The Fantasy of Lights kicks off the holiday season in Howell.  Join the fun at Fantasy of Lights, the Friday in November after Thanksgiving in downtown Howell.  Each entry in the Fantasy of Lights parade must be illuminated with a minimum of 5,000 holiday lights. The event marks the arrival of the holiday season in Howell and has attracted up to 30,000 spectators lining the Grand River Avenue parade route.  Entertainment activities such as cookie decorating and visits with Santa and live reindeer begin at 4 p.m. The Fantasy 5K Run begins at 6 p.m. followed by the start of the parade at 7 p.m.  For more information, please visit the website at howell.org