| BLOWOUT | Retire, introducing learner to festive party (4-3) |
| JOHNMILTON | Baptist minister introducing learner to poet |
| SLOGGED | Old horse contributing to festive transport did sweat (7) |
| WASSAIL | Festive party was thrown on cruise (7) |
| CRACKER | Festive party item, very fine type (7) |
| JOLLIES | Word, possibly related to "festive, winter feast, Yule", for celebrations, cheerful parties, outings at others' expense; or, Royal Marines (7) |
| SHINDIG | Festive party |
| ANOMALY | Order a learner to stop any eccentricity |
| LATERAL | Former artist takes learner to one side |
| NOMINAL | Token refusal by learner to admit a bit of talent |
| COLLATE | Arrange for learner to be delayed by company (7) |
| SUPPLER | Chef's concoction perhaps inspiring learner to be more flexible |
| STERNAL | Forbidding learner to hold article of bone |
| COLONEL | Col takes one learner to rank (7) |
| IVES | Composer contributing to festive season (4) |
| GALA | A showy and festive party (4) |
| CARNIVAL | Van, car and one lorry's beginning to travel to festive occasion (8) |
| NORTH | Point to festive song in a state swinging to the right (5,8) |
| CAROLINA | Point to festive song in a state swinging to the right (5,8) |
| PATCHWORKQUILT | Scrap job and leave, introducing learner as cover (9,5) |
