It is Halloween night, and no family on TLC has ever committed to October 31 quite like the Johnstons. For more than a decade, 7 Little Johnstons has turned spooky season into must-see television: full-family costume themes, a haunted house built in their own home, and one sister showdown over a cowgirl skirt that fans still quote. With Season 18 premiering Tuesday, November 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on TLC, there is no better night to rank the Johnston family’s wildest Halloween moments ever.
Here they are, from beloved to legendary — and yes, we want you to fight us on the order.
The One That Started It All: The Wizard of Oz Family Takeover
Season 6 opened with the Johnstons throwing a Halloween party, and the family could not agree on a costume theme for all seven of them — until they landed on the perfect one. The result is still the single most iconic Johnston family photo ever taken: Trent as the Wizard, Amber green-faced as the Wicked Witch, Liz sparkling as Glinda, Emma in Dorothy’s gingham, Alex painted silver as the Tin Man, and the rest of the clan filling out the Yellow Brick Road.
It worked because it was so them. No half-hearted store-bought costumes, no one phoning it in. Seven people, seven characters, one family that genuinely loves a theme. Every Halloween ranking since has been measured against this one — and nothing has beaten it yet.
The Haunted House They Built Themselves
If the Wizard of Oz party proved the Johnstons love Halloween, Season 13 proved they take it seriously. The family turned their own house into a spooky haunted house, complete with witches, zombies and the old fog machine, and hosted the scares themselves. Trent, never one to miss a hosting moment, leaned all the way in — top hat, cape and a grin that said he was enjoying every second of it.
There is something deeply Johnston about this one: the holiday was not about buying a costume, it was about building an experience together. It is also the moment fans point to when they say this family does holidays better than anyone else on reality TV.
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Then came the Halloween that turned into a sibling rivalry for the ages. In the Season 14 finale, Anna celebrated Halloween at her new home while the sisters got ready together — and the costume comparison instantly became a debate. Emma dressed up as Cowboy Barbie from the movie. Anna showed up as a redneck cowgirl, and, according to the episode recap, insisted her version was a little more creative.
Emma thought her costume was better. Anna disagreed. Liz had to step in and help Anna pull down her cowgirl skirt. It was funny, it was sisterly, and it was peak Johnston: a holiday moment that doubled as a family dynamic in miniature. Fans still argue about who won that costume contest — and honestly, the argument is the point.
Why Halloween Hits Different for This Family
Strip away the costumes and there is a real reason these moments land. The Johnstons have always treated holidays as family glue: the big group themes, the house projects everyone piles into, the teasing that never quite crosses the line. Halloween, more than any other holiday on the show, lets all seven personalities shine at once — the planners, the performers, the pranksters and the ones who just want the candy.
It also explains why fans are already wondering what Season 18 will do with the holidays. The new season follows Liz and Brice’s second baby, Trent’s 50-at-50 bucket list and Emma turning 21 — and a family this devoted to a theme night is not going to let Halloween pass quietly. That is speculation, not a spoiler: TLC has confirmed no holiday episode details. But if history is any guide, the Johnstons’ next Halloween will be worth the wait.
So here is the ranking, one more time: the Wizard of Oz takeover at number one, the homemade haunted house at number two, and the Cowboy Barbie vs. redneck cowgirl showdown at number three. Now it is your turn: which Johnston Halloween moment deserves the crown — and which costume would you have voted for? Drop your ranking in the comments and defend it.
