This year’s Freedom Fest logo has been unveiled, and designer Elizabeth Johnson said the Austin bandshell inspired it.

“I wanted to … use an abstract of what has kind of become an iconic symbol in Austin,” Johnson said. “I wanted it to have a throwback kind of feel.”

Johnson, an Austin native and recent North Dakota State University graduate, said she used Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign to create it. She said the logo competition is a good way to engage Austin residents in the arts.

“We don’t have a lot of creative or artsy competitions here,” she said.

Chamber of Commerce Major Events Coordinator Jeff Baldus said there were around 30 entries, but he liked Johnson’s logo the first time he saw it.

Johnson was awarded $100 in “Chamber bucks” and a festival T-shirt bearing her design.

Freedom Festival will be from July 1-4. T-shirts and other festival items with the logo will be available June 1.

On Friday, July 1, the Austin Jaycees will hold its annual Street Dance at Torge’e Live. Sporting events open on July 2 with the five-mile Hog Jog and Kids Fishing Contest at East Side Lake, followed by the 25-mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

Other activities, including entertainment at Bandshell Park, will be held throughout the Fourth of July weekend, as well. Seventeen hours of continuous stage entertainment has been scheduled at the bandshell July 3-4, along with children’s rides, carnival games and contests, food concessions and an arts and crafts show.

Bandshell stage entertainment includes 14 musical and dance performers, including Bissen Brothers Band, Austin Community Band, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, 3 Lane and the Austin Big Band.