A major weather system forecast to bring damaging winds, heavy rain and possible tornadoes has forced the cancellation of the second day of the Pinjarra Festival ahead of the WA Day long weekend.
The Shire of Murray said Sunday’s portion of the festival, scheduled for May 31, has been called off after advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and a briefing with emergency services. The decision was made in response to a severe storm expected to sweep across Western Australia over the weekend, with Perth and other parts of the state at risk of being battered by one of the strongest weather events WA has seen in five years.
Forecasts indicate wind gusts could reach up to 125km/h in some areas, while rainfall totals of up to 50mm are also possible. The weather system has raised concern not only for flooding and wind damage, but also for the possibility of tornadoes in some locations. Authorities have urged caution as the storm moves through the state.
In a statement, the Shire of Murray said safety was the priority in deciding to cancel the second day of the popular event. “Based on this advice and a briefing with emergency services, the Shire considers it necessary to prioritise the safety of stallholders, volunteers, contractors and attendees,” the statement said. It added that the call was “an extremely hard decision to make,” but described it as the responsible one under the circumstances.
The festival will still proceed on Saturday, May 30, with organisers expecting the first day of the event to go ahead as planned. Activities scheduled for Saturday include an art exhibition and an antique and vintage fair, giving the community at least one day to enjoy the annual celebration before the severe weather arrives.
The Shire thanked everyone involved in preparing for the 2026 event, including vendors, sponsors, volunteers and other contributors. It said it appreciated the support of those helping deliver the festival and looked forward to welcoming the community for Saturday’s program.
The Pinjarra Festival, which began in 2018, has become a well-known community event in the region. This year’s cancellation highlights the growing impact of severe weather on public gatherings as emergency authorities warn of dangerous conditions across parts of WA.
With the storm expected to intensify over the long weekend, residents and event organisers are being advised to monitor forecasts closely and prepare for possible disruptions.
