By 1918, at state and county fairs across the nation, civic groups encouraged wartime meals using food conservation-minded techniques so families could pass extra items to the war effort. Above: A member of the Woman’€™s Council of Defense offers a cooking demonstration at the La Plata County Fair, in Durango, in 1918.
Courtesy: National Archives, Denver 

Celebrate National Banana Split Day (Aug. 10), National Raspberry Tart Day (Aug. 11), National Filet Mignon Day (Aug. 13), National Creamsicle Day (Aug. 14) and Lemon Meringue Pie Day(August 15)

• Teddy Bear Picnic, 10:30 a.m. Aug. 10, Tallyn’s Reach Library, 23911 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora. Information: auroralibrary.org. Details: A special free event for teddy bears and friends ages 2 to 5 featuring stories, music, and treats
• Cherry Creek North 4th Annual Food & Wine, Aug. 11 Fillmore Plaza, Cherry Creek North. Information: cherrycreeknorth.com. Details: Tastes from Continental Deli, Enstrom Candies, Hapa Sushi Grill, Margs Taco Bistro, Second Home Kitchen & Bar and others

• National Left-Handers Day beer dinner, Aug. 13, Euclid Hall, Denver. Information: 303-595-4255. Details: Multi-course dinner matched with Left Hand Brewing beers

• Denver County Fair, Aug. 10-12, National Western Complex, Denver. Information: denvercountyfair.org. Details: Events include food contests, cheeseburger- and pie-eating competitions, cooking demos, Denver food trucks and beer garden

• Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival, Aug. 9-11, Beaver Creek Resort. Information: beavercreek.com. Details: Riedel’s Ultimate Red Wine Experience, Pastries and Port Cooking and Wine Pairing Class, a grand tasting, dinners and demos

• Japanese Tea Ceremony, Aug. 11 and 12, Denver Botanic Gardens. Reservations: botanicgardens.org. Details: Tokiyo Imanaka leads a traditional Japanese tea ceremony

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Tapas & Tea Festival, Sept. 22, Havana Motor Mile, Aurora. Information: onhavanastreet.com/tapas. Details: Tastings at the English Teacup, Havana Street Station, Cody Cafe, Deelish and others

• Colorado Pork and Hops Challenge, Sept. 7-8, Grand Junction. Information: porknhops.com. Details: Tastings and pork barbecue competition with serious beer

• Green Chile Championship. Information: coloradostatefair.com. Details:Torch-bearing cooks have until Aug. 30 to enter the Green Chili Championship and Aug. 31 for the Salsa Challenge at the Colorado State Fair, Aug. 24-Sept. 3 in Pueblo

FOOD CLASSES

• Denver’s artisan salumeria, Il Mondo Vecchio, offers hands-on classes taught by co-owner Mark Michael DeNittis in making fresh sausage, dry salumi or animal disassembly. Information: ilmondovecchiosalumi.com.  The company’s sister Cinque Soldi Deli in Denver offers cooking classes starting Aug. 29. Information: cinquesoldi.com

• The Almost Vegan Cooking School in Centennial is set to offer a new series of non-carnivorous classes this fall. Information: almostvegancookingschool.com.

• The City of Aurora has a full slate of cooking classes for adults and kids scheduled for fall. Information: auroragov.org/ThingsToDo/Recreation/Cooking/index.htm

FARMERS MARKETS

• Fitz 21 Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays, 22nd Street and N. Ursula, Aurora

• Havana Exchange Farmers Market, 10 a.m-3 p.m. Mondays, Havana and Yale, Aurora

Send information about food events, classes, festivals, wine dinners and tours in the metro area and all over Colorado to: jlehndorff@aol.com