MILLFIELD - The annual pumpkin carving contest moved online this year, requiring entrants to submit video proof of designs visible only under infrared light, a rule organizers called "spooky and also lawsuit-aware." Artist Michael Martinez carved a gourd with a hidden message about taxes that appears when viewed through a modified phone lens. "I wanted people to think," Martinez said. "Also to buy the lens attachment from my shop."

Traditionalists mourned the loss of pulp and emergency room visits, while children adapted by carving emojis into oranges and calling them beta pumpkins. One young participant, Sarah Thompson, carved a pumpkin emoji of her favorite video game character, Mario, complete with a mustache and a pipe. "It's so much easier to do," she said. "And no one gets hurt."

Judges included an influencer, a fire marshal, and an app that measures spooky engagement. Public voting opened on a platform launched for this purpose alone, which crashed when someone submitted a pumpkin playing a lo-fi beat. The app developers quickly issued a statement: "We are aware of the issue and will work to resolve it as soon as possible." Meanwhile, one participant, Alex Johnson, uploaded a video of his pumpkin carving a dance move that went viral on TikTok.

City hall offered a physical category for seniors who prefer knives and liability waivers. Three entries arrived, all excellent, all disqualified for not including QR codes. One senior, Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, carved a classic Jack-o'-lantern with intricate designs around the eyes and mouth. "I just wanted to make something beautiful," she said, holding up her carving. "But they want tech now? It's like asking me to learn how to use a smartphone."

Local farmers reported increased demand for "photogenic" pumpkins, a cultivar that photographs well but tastes like ambition. Farmer John Smith explained, "People want their pumpkin to look perfect in the photos, even if it's not as tasty." He added, "It's all about presentation these days."

Winners receive a trophy streamed in 4K and a coupon for next year's competition, theme pending focus groups. The focus group results were mixed. One participant suggested a theme of "Pumpkins Gone Wild," while another proposed "Pumpkins with a Purpose." City officials decided to go with the latter, stating, "We want to encourage creativity and community engagement."

Halloween continues, but now with more passwords. As one resident put it, "It's like we're living in a video game where every level requires you to solve a puzzle before moving on." Another added, "But at least no one gets splattered with pumpkin guts this year."