Preston — What would have been the 15th annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After much discussion, the festival committee canceled the event out of concern for public safety.

“Over the years, the festival has become a highly anticipated community event,” committee Chairwoman Leigh Pappas wrote in the cancelation announcement. “It has generated funds for the growth of the Preston City Congregational Church, and it has brought family and friends together to enjoy the vast popularity of the event.”

But Pappas said the potential “unknown financial gain” was not worth the health risks of holding the festival.