How do I solve 6 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

Question

Accepted Answer

6 across reads "Festivals starting late, unfortunately" (4 letters); the answer is ALAS. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Festivals starting late, unfortunately (4)

6A — Festivals starting late, unfortunately (4) — ALAS