Good morning, Justin and neighbors!

Well, look who finally decided to show up… RAIN! After what feels like an eternity of staring at the sky wondering if those clouds were just here to tease us, we’ve actually got thunderstorms popping up in the forecast this week.

And now for your morning reminder: You are allowed to make your own happiness.
Not every good day has to be earned. Sometimes happiness is a hot cup of coffee, a song you forgot you loved, laughing way too hard at something completely stupid, sitting on the porch while it rains, or buying the good donuts just because it’s Tuesday.

In fact, here’s your challenge for today: do one tiny thing that makes Future You say, “Yep. That was a good decision.”

Go make it a good one, Justin. And if the thunder starts rumbling later, maybe thank the sky for finally doing its job.

If you've been waiting for an excuse to grab the family and go get lost in a corn maze, eat something covered in cinnamon sugar and come home with a pumpkin you definitely didn't plan on buying... this is your season.

We put together a 2026 guide to pumpkin patches and fall farm fun within about an hour of Justin, with dates, locations, prices and what you'll find at each one.

There are some familiar favorites, a few options you may not have heard of, and even a couple of places where you can enjoy the fall fun without spending a fortune.

Check out our full 2026 Pumpkin Patch Guide

And a quick local note: Goober Bub's is still serving up its fall favorites this year, but unfortunately, the pumpkin crop didn't grow, so there won't be pumpkins there in 2026. The apple cider donuts are still worth a stop, though!

It may still feel a little early to be talking about Christmas, but the City of Justin is already getting ready for one of the town’s favorite traditions — the 2026 Lighted Christmas Parade!

The parade is set for Saturday, December 12, at 6:30 p.m., and the city is now looking for businesses, organizations, families and community groups to join the fun. Registration is free, and every entry must be lighted.

So if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to cover a trailer in Christmas lights, gather your neighbors or finally put that festive idea to work, this is your sign.

Ready to participate? Find details and register through the City of Justin’s Christmas Parade Entry Form.

By Narmeen Syed, MD

I didn’t open a medical practice because healthcare needed another building.

I opened Justin Primary & Pediatric Care because I wanted to create the kind of practice I would want my own family to have—a place where you know who is taking care of you, where your questions are welcome, and where medicine still feels personal.

And I wanted to build it here.

Justin and the surrounding communities are growing quickly, but there is still something very personal about this area. Families are putting down roots here. Children are growing up here. People know their neighbors, show up for local businesses, and care about what is happening in their community.

That felt like the right place to build a different kind of primary care practice.

I wanted JPPC to be a place that could grow alongside those families. Somewhere you could bring your newborn, come back for school physicals and sick visits, and also receive care yourself. Over time, I hope we get to know not only medical histories, but the people and families behind them.

Being physician-led matters to me, too. I want decisions about care to begin with the person sitting in front of me—not with how quickly we can move through an appointment.

JPPC is still new, and we have a lot of growing to do. But our purpose is simple.

I want to build a practice that knows this community, knows its families, and is here for the long term.

That is why I chose Justin.

Justin Primary & Pediatric Care • JustinPPC.com •(940) 946-1800

_{This article is part of a paid partnership with Justin Primary & Pediatric Care. We appreciate the support of our local advertisers, whose sponsorships help make the Justin Journal possible while bringing helpful information to our community.}

There’s a new lunch-and-dessert combo open just in time for your next trip around Texas Motor Speedway. Blimpie and Cold Stone Creamery are now open at 3400 Texas Hwy 114, Suite 105, in Fort Worth, near Champion Circle.

The co-branded location brings Blimpie subs and Cold Stone ice cream under one roof. Blimpie offers its made-to-order subs with meats sliced to order, while Cold Stone lets you customize your ice cream with mix-ins like candy, fruit, nuts and more.

The location is open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight for dine-in and pickup — so whether you're grabbing lunch, dinner or making a late-night ice cream run, you've got a new option along 114.

📍 3400 Texas Hwy 114, Ste. 105, Fort Worth
📞 (682) 502-4043

Mark Your Calendars!

Missed Santa’s North Pole Express last year? Don’t sleep on this one! Tickets typically sell out within minutes, so set your alarm now: tickets go on sale October 1 at 10 AM.

Monday~ Sep 28

Wednesday~ Sep 30

Thursday~ Oct 1

Friday~ Oct 2

Saturday~ Oct 3

Sunday~ Oct 4

Last year became history pretty quickly — and on June 26, 2025, Justin City Council started talking about making a little history of its own.

During that meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Shelby St. Claire brought forward the idea of creating Justin’s first official, Justin-specific holiday — a day to celebrate the beginning and history of the town we call home.

But first, they had to figure out which date actually deserved the honor.

Three dates were discussed:

January 1 — The historically reported date of the first train arriving in Justin.

May 5 — The date associated with the original town plat created by Thomas Helm and accepted by Denton County.

October 4 — The date Justin officially got the name Justin after an earlier paperwork mix-up had the town listed as “Justine.”

And if you've lived here long enough, you probably know which one won.

The council ultimately selected October 4 as Justin Day, recognizing the date in 1887 when the town's name was officially corrected from “Justine” to “Justin.”

There's actually a pretty great story behind that date.

In 1887, the town's name ended up being recorded as Justine. Even the first couple of postmasters were officially associated with the “Justine” name. Then, on October 4, 1887, John W. Berry was sworn in as Postmaster of Justin — marking the correction that finally gave the town the name we know today.

And because Justin apparently knows how to turn history into a good time, the plan was for Justin Day to be celebrated during the Layne Wilkerson Fish Fry in October, combining a new hometown tradition with one that's already been around for decades.

The fish fry itself dates back to 1974 and has become one of Justin's longest-running community traditions.

Well, Justin Day officially became a thing in 2025, and the community celebrated it alongside the 52nd Annual Layne Wilkerson Fish Fry on October 18.

Now we're heading into 2026, and October 4 falls on a Sunday. As of this writing, the city has not officially announced the details for a 2026 Justin Day celebration or this year's Layne Wilkerson Fish Fry.

So we'll be keeping an eye out. Because honestly, if we're going to have an official Justin Day, we feel like it deserves a little fanfare. Maybe fried fish. Maybe history. Maybe some Justin trivia. And, naturally, somebody should probably explain once again how we almost ended up being called Justine.

One little paperwork mistake. One corrected name. One town with a pretty interesting story.

Happy Justin Day, y'all — whenever we celebrate it!