The City of Franklin will honor Chicago Cubs World Series MVP, and Franklin resident, Ben Zobrist by proclaiming Dec. 3 in his honor.
During the annual Franklin Kiwanis Christmas Parade, Franklin Mayor Ken Moore will make the public proclamation declaring it Ben Zobrist Day from the town square.
Zobrist will also serve as Grand Marshall of the Kiwanis Christmas Parade, which begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Highway 96 West before winding down historic Main Street to the town square.
In addition to honoring Zobrist, parade-goers are also encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys that will be collected along the parade route for Grace Works Ministries, which distributes them to local children in need during the holiday season.
“We are honored to declare Dec. 3, Ben Zobrist Day in Franklin. We are proud to have this year’s World Series MVP reside in America’s Hometown,” Moore said. “Ben is a great role model for Franklin children and young baseball players across the country. His contributions to this year’s world series, and the Chicago Cubs historic win, will never be forgotten.”
Zobrist – who lives in Franklin with his wife, Christian recording artist Julianna Zobrist, and their three children – led the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908. That was Zobrist’s second consecutive World Series crown, also helping lead the Kansas City Royals to their first World Series title in 30 years in 2015.
“Ben has been a tremendous advocate for Franklin and we are all so proud to say he, and his family, are some of Franklin’s own,” CEO of Visit Franklin Ellie Westman Chin said. “The way Ben carries himself, both on and off the field, exemplify everything that Franklin is about and this just a small way of showing him and his family how proud we are of him.”
In addition to the parade, on Dec. 3, visitors can also finish their holiday shopping while perusing the shops along historic Main Street, take the kids to story time with Santa Claus at the Visitor Center, and even catch the Christmas Classic A Christmas Story or Tim Rushlow and His Big Band at the Franklin Theatre.
“I would encourage those coming for the Christmas parade to make a day of it, and explore the many holiday activities around Franklin,” Westman Chin said. “There truly is nothing like Franklin around holidays.”
A full list of holiday activities happening in Franklin on Dec. 3 can be found at VisitFranklin.com.
