The striker bagged goals number three and four of the season either side of Graeme Lee and David Graham efforts for the Owls as Town moved up to third in the table and Wednesday climbed off the bottom.
With the Sky cameras in town, Luton were clearly keen to wipe out the memory of their last home live appearance – a 3-1 reverse to Barnsley back in Easter 2004.
Warren Feeney raced clear down the right and won a corner after just 18 seconds from Kevin Nicholls' pass.
And just a minute later Town were ahead when Howard was first to react to Nicholls' quickly taken free-kick as he dived to head into the top corner from 15 yards for his third of the season.
Long-range efforts followed from Steve Robinson and Sol Davis as Luton pressed on, but Hatters were almost caught out in the 13th minute when Wednesday broke down the right and Chris Eagles' cross deflected into the path of Lee Peacock to fire straight at Marlon Beresford from the edge of the area.
The visitors took heart from the chance and levelled a minute later when Chris Brunt's corner nicked off Nicholls and Lee headed home from 14 yards.
Luton rallied again as Howard played in Feeney to run into the left-hand edge of the area and send in a curling effort that David Lucas did well to tip around the post in the 20th minute.
Nicholls was next to test Lucas five minutes later when Dean Morgan won the ball back after almost presenting the Owls with a breakaway opportunity and the Town skipper saw his low 22-yard drive held by the Wednesday keeper.
A neat Town move then saw Nicholls slip in Morgan to cross low for Feeney, but the Irishman saw his poked effort from two yards well saved by Lucas.
It was all one way traffic, but Luton were given another warning of Wednesday's danger on the break in the 32nd minute when Carlos Edwards misjudged a long ball and Brunt ran down the left and fired in a 20-yard shot from a tight angle that Beresford blocked with his legs.
Beresford was then called into action again five minutes later as he parried Brunt's stinging 25-yard free-kick and Town could only watch with relief as Graham shot wide from 10 yards with the goal gaping.
The let-off sparked Hatters into action again and from Nicholls' deep cross Howard nodded on for Robinson to glance a header that Lucas superbly pushed aside at full stretch.
Nicholls then chipped just over from 20-yards four minutes before half time as Hatters finished a sparkling opening period on the offensive.
Wednesday threatened first after the break when Brunt's 20-yard free-kick was tipped over by Beresford and the visitors should have taken the lead when Peacock blasted wide in the 61st minute with just Beresford to beat.
Three minutes later the Owls went ahead when Peacock flicked on and Graham this time made no mistake from 15 yards.
Town rallied immediately and Nicholls crossed for Howard to nod his second of the evening in the 66th minute after Feeney's lay off.
Feeney was somehow denied by Lucas in the 70th minute and Graham went close for Wednesday as both sides went for the winner.