The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word FESTIVAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
F
E
S
T
I
V
A
L
More clues leading to the result FESTIVAL
- Can its energy start to fire up a period of celebration?
- Loud summer gala
- Revels in ruin of VAT files
- Loud and summery event
- Around four, cook large feast for Christmas Day?
- VAT files go astray? Time for celebration!
- 5 last seen playing in 10’s famous event?
- Forte beginning for what’s not initially a summery Glyndebourne?
- Fat Elvis performing in pop event?
- Live fast, breaking for holiday
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a period of celebration" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a period of celebration = festival.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does FESTIVAL mean?
FESTIVAL noun- An event or community gathering, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community.
- In mythology, a set of celebrations in the honour of a god.
- Fried cornbread
- Pertaining to a feast or feast-day. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)