There are times of the year when hotel rates in the greater Frankfurt area shoot way up, and booking a room becomes a difficult task. Why is that? It usually means a major trade fair is coming to town. One of the biggest and most important of these fairs, the International Motor Show, will be Sept. 13-23. This year's slogan is "See what's driving the future," with a theme of sustainable mobility. This event is billed as the world’s most important and comprehensive trade fair for the automobile industry, and is sure to be a huge hit for any lover of fast and flashy wheels. Not only passenger cars, but virtually everything associated with them, goes on display.

While the first two days are devoted to trade, the event opens to the public on Sept. 15, and is open between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is 15 euros for adults and 7.50 euros for children ages 6-14, with discounts on entry during the evening hours.

The Frankfurt Messe shifts gears and hosts a huge array of other trade fairs throughout the year. While many of these (kitchen and bath plumbing?) would only appeal to a specialist, there are other events worth mentioning -- and worth a trek to the Messe.

The next "biggie" coming up is the Frankfurt Book Fair, from Oct. 10-14. The event is widely attended by those from all walks of the book industry, from publishers to agents, journalists, authors, and yes, even the readers themselves. Every year a "guest of honor" is highlighted; this year it’s Catalan culture. Tie-in events will be offered simultaneously throughout the city. The Buchmesse is open to the public Oct. 13-14; tickets are 10 euros for adult entry.

Neither cars nor books your thing? Other events at the Frankfurt Messe possibly of interest include:

Oct. 26-28- Marathon Mall - a "shopping mile" of sports and hobby related goods. Admission is free.

Jan. 23- 27- Beauty World, Paper World, Christmas World- a single ticket gains you admission to all events.

March 12-15- Musicmesse, Prolight + Sound

Not in the greater Frankfurt area? Find below some other 2007 trade fairs and similar events I thought sounded interesting, as posted on the Events Eye Web site. I can’t vouch for how good they are, or even if they are open to the public, but if any touch upon your hobbies or interests, explore them further:

Aug. 23-26, Leipzig, Germany, Games convention, electronics, telecommunications, media and hardware.

Sept. 28-30, London, National Wedding Show.

Sept. 28-Oct. 1, Colmar, France, antiques fair.

Sept. 29-Oct. 3, Berlin, contemporary art fair.

Sept. 29-Oct. 7, Paris, two-wheel show for bikes and motorcycles.

Oct. 3-7, Paris, Salon de la Photo, photography fair.

Oct. 4-7, Turin, Italy, Euromineralexpo, minerals and natural universe international market and show.

Oct. 4-7, Girona, Spain, horse trade fair.

Oct. 4-13, Venice, festival of contemporary music.

Oct. 5-7, Stuttgart, Germany, baby world.

Oct. 6-7, Charleroi, Belgium, continental European dog show.

Oct. 6-7, Berlin, coin exchange.

Oct. 6-14, Genoa, Italy, boat show.

Oct. 7-9, Birmingham, England, baby and child fair.

Oct. 7-9, Munich, trade fair for golf.

Oct. 11-12, Newark, England, antiques and collectors fair.

Oct. 11-14, Trieste, Italy, boat show.

Oct. 11-14, Milan, Italy, antique dealers exhibition and marketplace.

Oct. 11-14, Friedrichshafen, Germany, music expo.

Oct. 6-7, Charleroi, Belgium, Continental Europe dog show.

Oct. 17-21, Namur, Belgium, book fair for young people and educational fair.

Oct. 19-21, Vicenza, Italy, exhibition of coins, medals and paper money.

Oct. 19-22, Paris, chocolate show.

Oct. 20-21, Lausanne, Switzerland, pets and animals exhibition.

Oct. 20-22, Naples, Italy, sport, fitness and wellness expo.

Oct. 24-28, London, ski and snowboard show.

Oct. 25-28, Milan, Italy, marriage exhibition.

Oct. 27-Nov. 4, Basel, Switzerland, wine fair.

Oct. 30-Nov. 4, Nuremberg, Germany, horse show.

Nov. 6-11, Milan, Italy, bicycle exhibition.

Nov. 8-11, Milan, Italy, motorcycle exhibition.

Nov. 8-11, Stuttgart, Germany, horse fair.

Nov. 8-11, Verona, Italy, horse and equestrian equipment show.

Nov. 9-11, Munich, wine fair.

Nov. 10-11, London, coin fair.

Nov. 10-11, Luxembourg City, bric-a-brac fair.

Nov. 10-11, Frankfurt, coin exchange.

Nov. 15-18, Stuttgart, Germany, computers and electronics exhibition and consumer trade fair for new media.

Nov. 15-18, Stuttgart, Germany, model railways exhibition and creativity trade fair.

Nov. 16, Sinsheim, Germany, antiques show.

Nov. 16-18, Turin, Italy, contemporary international art show.

Nov. 16-19, Brussels, bicycle and motorcycle exhibition.

Nov. 16-19, Milan, Italy, semi-precious stones and silver handicrafts.

Nov. 22-25, Geneva, bric-a-brac and antiques.

Nov. 22-25, Berlin, boat show.

Nov. 23-26, Metz, France, antiques fair.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Sindelfingen, Germany, fish and reptile show.

Nov. 30-Dec. 4, Ghent, Belgium, 19th, 20th and 21st century art fair.

Nov. 30-Dec. 9, Essen, Germany, motor sport and old-timers car fair.

Dec. 1-9, Milan, Italy, exhibition and sale of crafts, food and wines.

Dec. 1-12, Paris, boat show.

Dec. 6-7, Newark, England, antiques and collectors fair.

Dec. 7-16, Bologna, Italy, car and motorcycle exhibition.

Dec. 17-23, London, horse show.

Stripes readers, do you know of any other trade fairs worth a visit?