If there’s one thing the Dunnigans take seriously — besides bedtime and Costco samples — it’s Halloween costumes. Every year, we go all in on a family theme, and looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at how our creativity (and costume storage bin) has evolved. From DIY magic to store-bought panic, here’s a look back at our Modern Dad Halloween History — and maybe it’ll spark some ideas for your next family costume theme.
2013 | The Greatest Showman (Before It Was Cool)
Okay, technically this was “circus-themed,” but let’s be honest — we were early adopters of The Greatest Showmanaesthetic before Hugh Jackman made it mainstream. Emily was the elegant trapeze artist, I was the overconfident ringmaster, and the kids were the cutest little lions and clowns you’ve ever seen.
Let’s just say…the glitter from that year still haunts our house.
2014 | Little Red Riding Hood
This was the year we leaned into storybook vibes. Emily was Little Red (naturally), I was the Big Bad Wolf (obviously), and Nixon was the hunter. Simple, classic, and slightly terrifying when your toddler howls in Target.
2015 | Pirates
Arrr, matey! Nothing says “family bonding” like everyone trying to talk in pirate voices for two weeks straight. Between the bandanas, fake swords, and eye patches, we were a walking adventure movie. Bonus: I got to say “aye aye, Captain Mom” all night.
2016 | Peter Pan
This year was pure nostalgia. We had Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell, and Captain Hook. It was one of those perfect costumes where everyone fit the role naturally — and we might’ve used it again later for a themed movie night. Clearly, Nixon had a bit of a Captain Hook obsession with two years in a row. This year we had happened to find his Hook costume at the Disney Store when we went on a family trip to Chicago.
2017 | Cinderella
Emily got her Disney fairy godmother moment (and crushed it). I was the king — or as the kids called me, “the guy who had a weird mustache.” One of the boys was Gus Gus, which might be my favorite toddler costume ever. And we had Cinderella and Prince Charming, obviously! Simple, sweet, and absolutely magical.
2018 | Disney’s Fab Five
This one was a fan favorite. We went full-on Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy — complete with giant ears and red shorts. It was classic Disney chaos, and we loved every second. I don’t know if you can tell, we like Disney.
2019 | The Wizard of Oz
There’s no place like home — especially when your family is rocking ruby slippers and courage medals. We had Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, and Glinda. It was heartwarming, colorful, and one of our most photo-worthy years. Fun part about this, Emily was pregnant with Alice, and Nixon and I flew out to New York that night for me to run in the New York City Marathon that year.
2020 | Star Wars
A galaxy far, far away…or just our driveway. This was the year we brought out our inner nerds. Luke, Leia, Han, Rey, and Baby Yoda made an appearance, and yes — I fully committed to my Jedi role. I even considered using the lightsaber for trick-or-treat crowd control.
2021 | The Addams Family
Creepy? Kooky? Spooky? Perfect. Emily as Morticia might’ve been too convincing, and I’ll admit I enjoyed channeling my inner Gomez. The kids made the best Wednesday and Pugsley duo — and it was our first year using face paint successfully (no tears, no smudges, miracle). Uncle Fester and cousin It were the stars of the show…at least as long as It could keep that hair on.
2022 | BYU Fans
We took a break from movie magic and kept it simple — and hilarious. Decked out in blue and white, foam fingers and all, we became the ultimate super fans. This one was all heart, less prep, and a total touchdown for comfort. Also, probably the scariest costume we’ve ever done (not BYU fans here…GO UTES)!
2023 | Super Bowl Showdown
It was Chiefs vs. Eagles in our house — and yes, it got competitive. Half the kids picked Mahomes, half went for Hurts, and Emily just cheered for whoever cleaned up faster. The girls of course were Taylor Swift (since she was just starting to date Travis Kelce) and Alice was one of Taylor’s cats. Let’s just say, this costume theme doubled as a football party.
2024 | Wicked
This year, we went green. Think Elphaba, Glinda, and all the Oz magic you can imagine. I was the Wizard, Emily was Madam Morrible, Nixon was Fiyero, Will was Boq, and the girls couldn’t be happier and Glinda and Elphaba.
As for 2025? The theme is TBD, but one thing’s for sure — it’ll be fun, it’ll be loud, and it’ll definitely involve snacks.
Final Thoughts
Our Halloween costumes have become one of our favorite family traditions — part chaos, part creativity, and 100% memory-making. Each year tells a story, not just through the costumes, but through the laughter, the teamwork, and the “we’ll never top this” moments we somehow always do.
