CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER AND COCOA FOR

Meteorologist Denis Phillips Spreads Christmas Cheer for A Good Cause

by Brie Gorecki, photos provided by Denis Phillips

It might not snow in Tampa, but local weatherman Denis Phillips can certainly create a whimsical winter wonderland. The local ABC Action News meteorologist is known for his cheery persona, signature suspenders and love of Diet Dr. Pepper. During hurricane season, his famous slogan “Rule #7” can be heard on repeat from residents referring to his lists of storm updates (for those not in the know, “rule #7” means no freaking out about the storm unless he tells you to). Though Phillips spends his days forecasting the weather, when the holiday season kicks in, he turns into weatherman extraordinaire-turned-Clark Griswold. His Palm Harbor neighborhood, Indian Trails, comes alive with a dazzling display of lights and holiday decorations. Along with the festive scenery, the Phillips family also seizes the opportunity to benefit the community.

Along with his wife Robyn and their six children ranging from ages 7 to 28, Phillips sells hot chocolate and popcorn to raise money for charity. Although their neighborhood has been donning over-the-top Christmas decorations for nearly 40 years, the Phillips family added fundraising to the festivities five years ago when their son, Jake, was setting up a fundraiser as a project for school. Since then, they have kept the tradition going, with proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network and Feeding Tampa Bay. Even though last year looked different due to Covid, they still had cars lined up for 45 minutes to see the lights and give donations. This year, Phillips says he’s excited to welcome visitors back in person. They will have hot chocolate and popcorn for sale, as well as 200 “Rule #7” themed tumblers and windshield decals, which were both created by Robyn. The proceeds from all the sales will go towards the charities.

The lights and decorations are up all season, but the fundraiser takes place over two Saturday nights in the middle of December. Visitors come from all around the Tampa Bay area to take in the enchanting scenery and get into the holiday spirit. While some choose to drive by, many people prefer to park and walk around. “It’s more enjoyable to take the time out to stop and see it,” Phillips says. It’s also a community effort. Neighbors donate hot chocolate to be sold, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office helps control the flow of traffic, and volunteers help run back and forth to the cars to deliver hot chocolate and collect donations. And it’s not just the Phillips’ house that’s covered top to bottom in holiday cheer. The whole neighborhood participates, turning the suburban neighborhood into a festival of lights.

While the street may look like quite the spectacle, Phillips says they don’t do it for the attention. “We just love Christmas. Everybody’s got a smile on their face. It’s the highlight of my year.” He welcomes visitors to come up and say hello, take a selfie, and cheers with a cup of hot chocolate. The lights on the Phillips house are synced to music and there are decorations up and down the street for people of all ages to enjoy all month long. However, weekends can still be quite busy. “If you want to avoid the traffic, definitely come during the week,” he says.

Though Christmas is obviously a big deal in his household, Phillips says his favorite holiday tradition takes place on New Year's Eve and is carried down from his dad. “At midnight, everyone takes a penny from the previous year, has a cracker with a sardine, and a glass of champagne. The pennies are then taped to the outside of the door in hopes of good fortune and prosperity.”

This year’s hot chocolate fundraiser takes place Dec. 11 and 18 from 6-10 p.m. in the Indian Trails neighborhood off Alderman Road and Omaha Street.