Having met resistance elsewhere, the New England Leather Alliance is bringing its "Fetish Fair Fleamarket" to the North Shore.

The fair, featuring more than 100 exhibitors selling erotic merchandise, everything from "corsets and boots to dungeon furniture and restraints," is scheduled for three days - Jan. 26 through 28 - at the Sheraton Ferncroft. Organizers made a last-minute move here from Mansfield because of a dispute over a permit requirement.

A lucky geographical break - the Sheraton Ferncroft is in both Danvers and Middleton - could spare the New England Leather Alliance from similar headaches on the North Shore. Vendors will be setting up shop in the hotel's grand ballroom, which is in Middleton. And unlike Danvers, Middleton hasn't designated a section of town for adult businesses to operate.

Building Commissioner Bob Camacho said yesterday he would take a closer look, but he didn't recall anything in Middleton's zoning regulations that would prevent the flea market. Danvers, on the other hand, has an adult zone bylaw restricting this type of activity to an area off Route 1 near the Peabody line.

Vivienne Kramer, chairwoman of the New England Leather Alliance, said the flea market isn't something to fear.

"We make every effort to have a low-key and enjoyable event that is profitable to the host hotel and the host city," she said. "We've never had issues of any kind."

In its 28th year, the event has previously been held at the Park Plaza and the Sheraton in Boston, as well as the Ramada in Andover - and would probably still be held there if the Andover hotel hadn't closed, Kramer said.

Most of the expected 3,000 to 4,000 attendees will be from the Greater Boston area, but others will travel from points "all over the country," Kramer said. Flea market patrons have booked nearly all of the Sheraton Ferncroft's 350 rooms, and organizers have reserved all of the hotel's function rooms and meeting space.

"We're going to accommodate them as we do all the groups that come into the hotel," said Edward Carey, director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Ferncroft.

Consider the hotel taxes, the overflow of people staying at other area hotels and the business generated at local restaurants and shops, and Kramer estimates the weekend-long event will pump at least $1 million into the local economy.

The flap in Mansfield arose last January when a Holiday Inn there hosted the flea market. Informed of a possible violation of zoning regulations, Mansfield's building inspector investigated and determined it was the equivalent of an "adult paraphernalia store," a designation that required the New England Leather Association to obtain a special permit from the town if it hoped to return to Mansfield this year.

The association objected, arguing town officials chose to enforce the permit requirement because of their discomfort with the flea market's adult content. Mansfield Town Manager John D'Agostino said the group was just being asked to follow the rules like anyone else.

"The situation in Mansfield was very unfortunate," Kramer said. "I'd rather focus on the positive."

She described the Fetish Fair Fleamarket primarily as a "weekend of shopping."

"It's like any other flea market, but it's adult-oriented in nature," Kramer said.

Admission costs $15, and you have to be 18 or older. The fair kicks off Friday night with a fashion show and an "erotic art reception." Numerous classes and demonstrations that address whips, role playing, bondage and other subjects will be offered on Saturday and Sunday.

Kramer said her group wasn't aware of the fortuitous placement of the grand ballroom.

"We didn't pick the Ferncroft," she said. "The Ferncroft picked us."

The hotel is a property of Starwood Hotels, a company that has hosted the flea market at some of its other properties.

"Believe it or not," Kramer said, "hotels want our business."