The Fez performs in 2018 at Rock the Block at NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Indian Creek Nature Center postponed its popular Maple Syrup Festival when the coronavirus pandemic hit Iowa, but announced Thursday, May 28, that the festival has been canceled for this year.

A young visitor takes a bite of a pancake at a previous Maple Syrup Festival. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Originally set for March 21-22, 2020, Nature Center leaders postponed the festival — one of the primary fundraisers for the nonprofit — until June 27-28, but decided instead to cancel it.

“We feel it is best for the health and safety of the entire community, as well as our staff and volunteers, to wait until next year,” they announced in a note to supporters. Ticket holders have the option to transfer their ticket to next year, donate all or part of their ticket costs back to the Nature Center, transfer to a gift card to put toward a future purchase, or receive a refund.

Many beloved Iowa festivals synonymous with summer have already been canceled, such as the Freedom Festival in Cedar Rapids, but leaders of NewBo City Market are considering how its Rock the Block concerts might proceed.

More: Learn what went into the decision to cancel the 2020 Freedom Festival

NewBo City Market sent a survey asking for feedback on the concerts, typically held for free outdoors in summer months, to see if residents would consider attending a socially-distant concert or other event in the Market Yard this summer.

The survey asks about different scenarios for the concerts, including indoor vs. outdoor; spacing people or groups 6 feet apart; offering designated seating areas 6 feet away from others; reserving a spot or table; limiting capacity to promote social distancing and discouraging people from gathering in groups.

Other questions reference how much attendees might be willing to pay for a cover charge or to reserve a table or space for Rock the Block or other events.

Iowa has now surpassed 500 coronavirus deaths, even as most businesses, including bars and restaurants, have been allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity.

More: Iowa bars ready to reopen

The Fez performs in 2018 outside of NewBo City Market. Live bands are allowed to perform outdoors and in Iowa bars after Governor Kim Reynolds lifted more restrictions that had been in place to help curb spread of the coronavirus. (photo/Cindy Hadish)