| PIDAY | Mid-March celebration ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 25-, 44- and 57-Across |
| CHEER | Food and drink provided for a festive celebration; or, a shout for joy or encouragement (5) |
| HORSE | Neigh sayer (and a word that can follow the starts of 17-, 25-, 44-, and 57-Across) |
| FIESTA | A religious festival or celebration, or a holiday or carnival (6) |
| CHEAP | Tightfisted (and a word that can precede the ends of 17-, 25-, 44-, and 57-Across) |
| TAUTOLOGICAL | Like the names of 18-, 25-, 40- and 50- Across vis-a-vis the bracketed languages |
| WILDLIFE | World ___ Day 3rd March celebration of fauna... or a hint to solve 27a 35a 45a 49a 1d and 39d |
| JOLLY | Word, thought to stem from the name of the mid-winter feast or festival "Yule", for "cheerful, delightful, merry"; or, a happy celebration or party (5) |
| TICTACTOE | Pencil game that hints at this puzzle's theme, found in the first and last letters of 18-, 25- and 4 |
| POBOX | Many a bus. address, and a literal hint to 18-, 25-, 47- and |
| FIVEFOURTHREE | Final part of 18 25 - hit song (4,4,5,3,3) |
| STPAT | Patron of a March celebration, informally |
| PROSANDCONS | Both sides of an argument ... and what can literally precede the starts of 18-, 24-, 53- and 60-Acro |
| FACERECOGNITION | Technology used by smartphones nowadays ... or a hint to the ends of 16-, 24-, 44- and 57-Across |
| GRAS | Mardi ___ (February or March celebration) |
| FEST | A gathering for a particular celebration or purpose |
| FRINGEFESTIVALS | Unconventional cultural celebrations, or the circled answers relative to their placement in this puzzle's grid |
| MYBAD | "Oopsie!"... and a hint to the ends of 18-, 25-, 39- and 50-Across |
| ACDC | "Highway to Hell" rock group ... or a hint to electrical switches found in 16-, 23-, 36-, 44- and 57-Across |
| STARTOFANEWDAY | Puzzle title suggested by 20, 25, 44 Acr |
