Long weekend draws the crowds to Gozo

Some 3,000 people crossed to Gozo between Wednesday and Thursday for the long weekend, according to government statistics released to highlight the success of the Gozo 1234 four-day festival.

In all, 15,000 people took the ferry to Gozo on these two days with 4,043 vehicles while 11,880 passengers and 2,742 returned, leaving some 3,000 extra people to spend the weekend on the sister island.

The festival, which is being handled by Burning Spear, is a joint venture of Where's Everybody and Nexos Lighting. It featured a mixture of culture, history, music, food, drama, sport and dance, as well as a fireworks festival.