Western Australia’s Wa Day celebrations were thrown into disarray on Sunday after organisers cancelled multiple festivals planned for Monday, with destructive weather making it unsafe to go ahead. The free Fremantle event, meant to be Perth’s main WA Day celebration, was among those called off.

Celebrate WA made the decision a day early as squally conditions swept across the southwest of the state and forecasts warned of possible tornadoes and flash flooding. Events in Albany and Kalgoorlie were also cancelled or postponed, leaving Geraldton as the only centre holding official celebrations on Monday.

That shift mattered because the Fremantle gathering around the fishing boat harbour and Bathers Beach had been designed as the city’s showcase event. Strong winds made it impossible to safely bump in the stage and stalls, stripping the festival of the setup it needed before a single performer could take the mic or a family could find its way to the waterfront.

Geraldton’s free event still went ahead with Karloo Rockers, cultural performances, archery, a rope course, animal encounters and children’s activities. The State’s major celebration in Burswood had already been pushed to November, and other regional towns and cities, including Broome, Newman, Port Hedland, Karratha and Carnarvon, were set to host similar festivities in the coming weeks.

For families, performers, artists, vendors, staff, volunteers and event partners, the cancellations turned a long weekend into a waiting game. No replacement plan was announced for Fremantle, Albany or Kalgoorlie, and for now Geraldton was left as the only official WA Day destination on Monday.