Laughfests (5)
I believe the answer is:
riots
'laughfests' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for riots that I've seen before include "Violent disturbances" , "Public disturbances" , "Acts of violence by unruly mobs" , "Wild disturbances by crowds" , "Protests" .)