Region’s wild weather forces postponement of WA Day festival at Museum of the Great Southern

Storm warnings for the WA Day public holiday have forced organisers to postpone WA Day Festival at Museum of the Great Southern on Monday.

The Museum of the Great Southern informed patrons on Saturday afternoon as Department of Fire and Emergency Services continued to issue storm warnings for Albany with wild weather hitting the region on Sunday night and throughout the public holiday.

“The safety of our patrons, performers, staff and volunteers is our highest priority,” the post read.

“Please keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on a rescheduled date.”

The annual festival was set to take over the museum on the Monday public holiday, offering free family entertainment for young and old from 10am until 2pm.

This year’s program included live entertainment from musicians and local schools, storytelling and plenty of hands-on activities.

There was face painting, glitter tattoos, bouncy castles, craft, outdoor games, Japanese origami workshops and interactive play zones for the children.

The annual thong-throwing competition was also set to make a return, a beloved part of the WA Day festival and a WA tradition.

Menang man Larry Blight was set to put on traditional tool-making displays — an opportunity for attendees to learn a bit more about Menang culture and the practical skills still practised by Indigenous people today.

Michelle Essex was leading a special display of Albany’s multicultural history, with Living Histories sharing stories from Filipino, Indian and Menang people through performances and interactive sessions to get the audience involved and help them explore the history and contributions of a different culture.

The WA Museum’s Museum in a Container display was also visiting for WA Day, with the pop-up exhibition exploring the history and eye-opening stories of camels and cameleers in WA, a group who played a significant but often-overlooked role in the State’s history.

The exhibition includes a life-sized camel model named Naqa that young attendees can meet.

Both North Albany and Albany senior high schools were to take to the stage along with BilyaBeats, Bird on a Wire Choir, and the Valdoonicans while the museum and the Brig Amity will also be open all day for families to explore.

Prior to the postponement, Celebrate WA chairman Scott Jones said Albany’s WA Day festival would provide a meaningful opportunity to celebrate local stories during a significant year for the city.

“Albany has an extraordinary history and a deep connection to culture, place and community, and WA Day is a chance to bring those stories together in a way that is accessible for everyone,” he said.

“With 2026 marking Albany’s bicentenary year, this event creates a special moment for reflection, pride and celebration as part of the wider WA Day program across the State.”

Albany’s WA Day event is part of a broader program across the whole State that includes festivals in Broome, Port Hedland, Newman, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Fremantle, Karratha and Perth.

“Everyone’s got an affiliation to being Australian but you live and breathe WA,” Mr Jones said.

“What people don’t quite often recognise is the mix of cultures that we have within our State.

“Anyone and everyone that forms part of the DNA that makes up WA, we’re hoping to have something that will recognise their heritage and culture and what it’s meant for us in WA.

“Get on down and celebrate with your community.

“It’s something we’re so proud of as Western Australians to celebrate our own day.”