Shop 'til you drop: The Main Drag

SYDNEY: A shopping initiative on Oxford Street featuring fitness gurus, massages and drag shows is enticing locals to rediscover the gay mile during the Mardi Gras season. 

Live burlesque, drag shows, muscle boys, Zumba classes, pop-up yoga gardens, a Wizard of Oz dress-up competition and an outdoor fitness class presented by the one and only Mark Moon will be some of the reasons why Oxford Street will be able to call itself The Main Drag once again come this weekend.

With the City of Sydney joining forces with Darlinghurst business owners and Sydney Mardi Gras, The Main Drag event to take place on Saturday, February 25, will show visitors and locals everything the iconic gay mile has to offer; encouraging passers-by to stop in for some entertainment, take a moment to unwind, and, of course, shop ’til they drop.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore says the day will hopefully give residents, workers, as well as tourists and other visitors, even more reason to explore the iconic street.

“Oxford Street is one of Sydney’s most loved streets, and it really comes to life during Mardi Gras, attracting tens of thousands of tourists from all corners of the globe,” she says.

With shopping long a major attraction of the area, shop owners have been given colourful rainbow flags to help decorate their windows with prizes to be given for the most show-stopping displays of glitz and glamour, while some cafes will be offering special Main Drag deals.

Justin Green, spokesperson for the 2010 Business Partnership, tells SX the event would celebrate the diversity of businesses available in the Oxford Street area.

“It will prove to people that it is still a great destination to shop, buy clothes, get a beauty makeover or a great tan, eat in a nice restaurant, have a coffee with friends or dance the night away plus so much more,” Green says.

“We are extremely grateful and appreciative of the City Of Sydney’s help and assistance to make this event a reality and one to be repeated again and again!”

City Gym manager Steve Worthy says The Main Drag is a great opportunity to “get people back onto the streets” to see what the Oxford Street and Darlinghurst community has to offer. “City Gym has supported the local business community – and vice versa – for the last 33 years and we want to help out Oxford Street retail on Saturday 25th February by providing free ZUMBA for all!” he tells SX.

“Plus look out for the City Gym muscle boys and travelling wheel of fortune!”

While if all that muscle isn’t enough, international Australian Men’s Living cover model, Mark Moon, will also be hosting a 30 minute cardio and core workout on the Taylor Square Main Stage from 3pm.

“As part of the 2012 Mardi Gras festivities, Main Drag will be the ultimate shopping and entertainment afternoon festival,” Moon told SX.

“We're expecting huge numbers and I can’t wait to get attendees working out when I host my fitness demonstration.”

[Pictured] Oxford Street shopping event The Main Drag will feature entertainment from the likes of fitness guru Mark Moon.

The Main Drag, Saturday, February 25, Oxford Street and surrounds. Special shows and performances to take place between 12pm-4pm.