You might think you were seeing things running through your head at the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con, but it was actually the local Ghostbusters in full gear with their car this year.
Right in front of the Upper Darby High School was parked a 2005 Dodge Magnum decked out with gear on its top and the no-ghost signs on its doors.
The Philadelphia Ghostbuster car was parked outside Upper Darby High School Saturday during the Winter-Fest and Winter-Con. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
Inside the high school, Danny Lantern, a 2009 Upper Darby High alum, is a part of the nonprofit charity group, Philadelphia Ghostbusters, set up a table near the Winter-Con portion to delight the crowds at the six-hour event that serves as the biggest fundraiser for the Upper Darby High School Band.
The Ghostbusters came after they got the call.
“I was like, ‘Oh, man, that would be really cool,’ ” Lantern said, after one of his friends, who’s also a comic vendor at the event, asked him to come. “They want us to walk around. I was like, ‘Well, let’s set up. I’ll bring the car. We’ll set up and have fun with it.’ “
Upper Darby High alum Danny Lantern is a Philadelphia Ghostbuster who brought the crew to the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
Formed in 2009, the Philadelphia Ghostbusters also do conventions and participated in parades in Media for Halloween and for Christmas. A few weeks ago, they were in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving parade.
“We used to walk around the city and people would get pictures of us,” Lantern said. “We’d be like, ‘Yeah, we’re the Philadelphia Ghostbusters. We’re out raising money for Philabundance.’ “
Fresh off their recent donation of 1,500 pounds of food to Philabundance, they had a table set up at the Winter-Con portion of Saturday’s event with T-shirts and games for kids.
“We have fun games that kids can play: a shooting game or a guessing game,” Lantern said.
The Philadelphia Ghostbusters brought Slimer with them to the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY- DAILY TIMES)
For him, being a Ghostbuster is all about the costume.
“Ah, that’s the best thing,” Lantern smiled. “I feel like this is my second skin and being able to drive the car around is awesome.”
Asked if he’s ever collected ghosts, he said they actually have done some paranormal investigations, with one last weekend at Pennhurst Asylum.
“It was a lot of fun,” Lantern said. “We got some good readings. We got some good voice recordings as well … One of the videos, … I said, ‘Alright, we’re going to go to another room to make some new friends. Thank you.’ And we turn off this spirit box and it said, ‘Ok, good bye.’ … I freaked out. I freaked out. It was one of the coolest experiences ever.”
He said he’ll post it on their Facebook or Instagram after he sorts through the two hours of footage.
‘Biggest fundraiser’
This year was the fourth annual rendition of the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con featuring more than 200 vendors and involving dozens of adult and student volunteers Saturday between the two events housed in the Upper Darby High School.
A pancake breakfast was added after the first year.
Helping out at the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con are from left, Upper Darby band alto saxphonist Jinuhangma Rai; band parent/elf Kate Long; band drummer Garrett Sindlinger; volunteer Julia Truong and volunteer and high school senior Atefa Mahera. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
All proceeds from the event help to offset costs for the $60,000 program that includes the marching band show, the color guard costumes, indoor drumline and more. The marching band with the color guard has increased to 125 members this year. Coming out of COVID, the program had fewer than 40.
“This is the biggest fundraiser that we do,” Ian Clarici, head of special events for the Upper Darby Band and Orchestra Parents, said. “We try to build on it … We’re thankful that the district gives us the opportunity to do this type of event as a fundraiser.”
This year, they added a second concession stand by the Winter-Con area so attendees and vendors there would have easier access to refreshments.
Clarici noted that student volunteers included band members and also National Honor Society students and those from the Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation.
Kate Long, treasurer of the Upper Darby Band and Orchestra Parents, said they do their best to defray the costs for the students.
“We do a lot of fundraisers like this to help offset the cost so that we keep the due payments … affordable,” she said, adding that they also do student fundraisers throughout the year like car washes.
A Star Wars character walks the halls during the Upper Darby Winter-Fest and Winter-Con. (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)
Long highlighted the Winter-Fest and Winter-Con.
“We’re at max capacity, which has really been phenomenal,” she said. “It’s a beautiful event.”
Upper Darby freshman and band drummer Garrett Sindlinger spoke about what the day meant to him.
“I like coming out here and doing this stuff for the community,” he said as he staffed the hot dog stand near the gymnasium. “I was here since 7 (a.m.) My grandmother is actually one of the vendors. I was helping a bunch of people bring stuff in. I got a pretty good workout from that.”
Sindlinger plays the drums for the band and appreciated the public backing.
“I really enjoy the community coming out to support people in the marching band,” he said, even though he didn’t have to worry about his dues since he’s been clocking in the volunteer hours since he was in middle school.
Upper Darby High School (KATHLEEN E. CAREY – DAILY TIMES)