Summerween Winner Announced + Halloween Contest Launch

We've crowned our first Summerween contest winner, and what a hauntingly beautiful creation it was. 

Jason Scalfano takes home the $250 prize with his mesmerizing screenplay "The Onion Gift." This isn't just a story, it's a meditation on love, loss, and the lengths we'll go to bridge the impossible divide between life and death.

Jason's work captured everything we love about horror: the way it can be both beautiful and terrifying, how it explores our deepest fears about losing those we love, and how the supernatural becomes a mirror for our most human emotions.

Stories like "The Onion Gift" remind us why we built LavishMade. In a world where algorithms control what gets seen and corporate platforms take massive cuts, creators need spaces where their voices can be heard and supported directly by their communities.

Jason didn't win because of follower count or viral potential. He won because he created something that moved us, that made us think differently about grief and connection, that showed us the power of storytelling to explore the darkest corners of human experience.

This is exactly the kind of creative work that deserves recognition and support.

With Summerween behind us, we're launching our official Halloween contest, and this year we're doing it festival style. Each piece must include a setting, a character, and a phrase. Choose your set, weave your tale, and create something that haunts.

The Challenge: Pick one of four prompt sets below. Your entry must use ALL three elements from your chosen set (setting, character, and phrase). 

The Prize: $100 cash prize, LavishMade's first official contest laurel (digital badge), and a surprise Oklahoma-local gift.

The Deadline: October 28th at 11:59 PM CST

How to Enter: Post your submission on LavishMade and tag it #LavishHalloween2025

You can submit one entry for each set (up to four total). Creepy, eerie, and all yours to interpret.

Contests like this aren't just about prizes, they're about creating opportunities for creators to be seen and supported. When we directly support creators like Jason, we're not just rewarding great work; we're building a community where creativity thrives.

Every submission, every story, every haunting tale strengthens the creative ecosystem that makes LavishMade special. Whether you're entering the Halloween contest or just supporting creators you love, you're part of building something meaningful.

Keep an eye out for more contests, creator spotlights, and opportunities to support the voices that matter to you. We're building a platform where creators can focus on what they do best, creating, while their communities handle the support.

The Halloween contest is live now. Pick your prompt set, weave your tale, and show us what haunts your imagination.