The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival will not take place this year.

Citing concerns about COVID-19, the festival's organizers said they made the decision Wednesday night to keep the public safe.

"This is about protecting people and family and right now there are too many risks," a letter posted to the festival's Facebook page said.

"It is a difficult decision but we needed to think with our heads, not our hearts."

The festival was scheduled to take place April 4.

This is not the first major local event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Earlier this week Communitech announced it will cancel the True North tech conference. The festival was set to take place at venues in Kitchener and Waterloo from June 1 to 7.