The architects who designed Howard Commons described the finished park as a year-round, family-oriented "place for people." Shive-Hattery's project account says the three-acre site in the center of the Village was built during a year-long construction phase by Miron Construction of Green Bay and opened on Sept. 3. Most of what that page describes is easy to picture in July: the splash pad, the amphitheater lawn and the beer garden under its shade structure. The words "year-round" depend on something you can't see in summer, the refrigeration built under the pavilion floor.
On Thursday, Nov. 19, that refrigeration goes back to work. The Village of Howard's event listing calls the evening the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony & Ice Rink Opening, and it runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at 550 Commons Place. From then through the cold months, much of Howard's winter calendar takes place in two Village-owned buildings: the pavilion at the Commons and the clubhouse at Village Green Golf Course.
A Roof Designed for Both Seasons
The Commons opened in 2023 with what WFRV described at its soft opening as a multi-season rink for roller and ice skating, along with a pavilion, an activity center, an amphitheater and a Biergarten. That rink sits under the main roof. According to Shive-Hattery, the covered pavilion along the park's center line was designed for farmers markets, roller skating, festivals, concerts and civic gatherings, and refrigerated ice makes it "a beacon for activity even in the winter months."
Because the ice is refrigerated, the rink doesn't have to wait for a long stretch of hard freeze before skating can start. The Village can put a fixed date on the calendar, such as a Thursday in the third week of November.
The building next to the ice is just as important. The activity center at the west end of the pavilion has indoor seating, conference space, skate rental and ice-support operations. It also has a full-length window looking into the pavilion. That window lets someone wait indoors and still watch the skaters. Outside, the beer garden on the south side is built around a custom shipping-container bar serving local brews, with fire pits among the outdoor furniture.
How the Nov. 19 Evening Unfolds
The Village has posted a timed schedule for the evening. It is built so the family part of the night happens before the tree lighting, and the ice opens right after it.
- 5 to 6 p.m.: Cocoa, crafts and activities. The Biergarten opens at 5 and stays open until 9.
- 6 to 6:45 p.m.: Tree lighting.
- 6:45 to 9 p.m.: Ice skating, the first session of the season.
- 7:15 p.m.: Santa arrives.
The Bay Port Band and New Fusion Dance are both scheduled to perform. Bank First of Howard and Green Bay ER & Hospital are the evening's sponsors. The listing also says more details are still to come. The Howard Commons page on the Village site is the place to check before heading out.
The schedule gives families a choice. Come at 5 and you get the crafts and cocoa first, with skating waiting at the end of the night. Come at 6:30 and you catch the end of the tree lighting, then go straight to the ice before Santa arrives at 7:15.
What Last Winter Looked Like Under the Schmidt Pavilion
In January 2026, FOX 11 reported that the ice rink sits under the Arnold & Gloria Schmidt Pavilion. Skates, helmets, and elbow and knee pads were available to rent. The station said last season's rink stayed open through Feb. 15.
The same report described two other winter options. Groups could rent winter igloos, which are weather-resistant, transparent domes for sitting warm and dry outdoors. Larger groups could rent the Activity Center itself. Those were 2025–26 offerings. For this season's hours, rental details and costs, check the Howard Commons Activity Complex page.
Here's how the pavilion's year breaks down, using the architect's design description and last winter's reporting:
| Season | What the pavilion floor hosts | Indoor support next door |
|---|---|---|
| Warm months | Farmers markets, roller skating, festivals, concerts, exhibitions | Activity center seating and skate rental |
| Winter | Refrigerated ice skating, with gear rentals reported last season | Activity center seating, skate rental and the viewing window |
Fridays Move to the Golf Course
The Commons isn't the only Village-owned venue with a winter schedule. Village Green Golf Course at 302 Riverdale Dr. serves a Friday fish fry, and the Village's own calendar lists it for 3 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 20. The fish fry is still on the January 2027 calendar, with dates on Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29, at the same 3 to 8 p.m. hours.
The Village Green menu lists these fish fry options:
- Perch
- Walleye
- Deep-fried shrimp
- Deep-fried cod
- Baked cod
- A perch, shrimp and cod combo
Every plate comes with coleslaw and rye bread. For your side, you can pick a baked potato, baby reds, potato salad, German potato salad or fries. Check current prices on the menu page or with the clubhouse before you go.
The ice opens at the Commons on Thursday, Nov. 19, and the next afternoon, Friday, Nov. 20, the fish fry runs at Village Green. The Village runs both.
The Village Calendar Around the Holidays
These are the Village listings from the tree lighting through January, plus the holiday closures worth knowing before you go:
| Date | What's listed | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 19 | Tree Lighting Ceremony & Ice Rink Opening, 5–9 p.m. | Howard Commons, 550 Commons Place |
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Friday Fish Fry, 3–8 p.m. | Village Green Golf Course, 302 Riverdale Dr. |
| Tue., Nov. 24 | Tupperware Open House at the Commons, 4–7 p.m. | Howard Commons, 550 Commons Place |
| Wed., Nov. 25 | Village Hall closes at 11:30 a.m.; Public Works keeps regular 7 a.m.–3 p.m. hours | Village Hall |
| Thu.–Fri., Nov. 26–27 | Village offices closed for Thanksgiving | Village Hall |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Village Green closed for Thanksgiving; no fish fry | Village Green Golf Course |
| Fri., Jan. 1 | Village Green closed for New Year's Day | Village Green Golf Course |
| Fri., Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 | Friday Fish Fry, 3–8 p.m. | Village Green Golf Course |
Village Green is closed on Friday, Nov. 27, so there is no fish fry the day after Thanksgiving. If you have guests in town that weekend, the Commons is the better plan.
The Village Board also meets in the Village Hall board room on Monday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public, and agendas are posted in the Village's Agenda Center.
The tree lighting and the first skate of the season are on Nov. 19 at the Commons. If a friend or family member is thinking about a move to Howard, or you have questions about your own home, Team Forehand Realty is glad to help. Schedule a free consultation and we'll start with what you love about where you live now.
