Ape synod’s unusual times for public visits (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

open days

'times for public visits' is the definition.
(an open day is a day when the public visit)

'ape synod's unusual' is the wordplay.
'unusual' indicates an anagram.
'ape'+'synod'='apesynod'
'apesynod' anagrammed gives 'OPEN DAYS'.

(Another definition for open days that I've seen is " special occasions".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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