One of the best-known shopping precincts in Australia has decided to swap its traditional Santa Clause for a drag queen, in an effort to boost festive cheer in the run up to Christmas.

Chapel Street in Melbourne will play host to the glittering performers. They will be paraded in the back of a BMW convertible as they lip sync to Kylie Minogue and Mariah Carey every day between now and Christmas eve.

When QUEENS are QUEENS! ? #chapelstreet #melbourneblogger #chapelst #dragqueen #artsimone #christmas #kinkybootsaustralia @dreamdrivesmelbourne A video posted by Chapel Street (@chapelprecinct) on Dec 9, 2016 at 7:22pm PST

The director of the association that represents local shops, Chrissie Maus, told The Age that she wanted to throw out the rule book and celebrate diversity.

“Chapel Street does not do boring. It’s bold and full of colour,” she said, adding “No one is more experienced at getting a party started than a drag queen, that’s why we’ve recruited three of Melbourne’s finest.”

Popular local act Art Simone is one of the stars of the show. Reacting to controversy surrounding the decision to ditch Santa, she told the Mail “Change may not be comfortable … But it’s necessary.

“And let me tell you I wear some things to change me that are not comfortable but are ABSOLUTELY necessary!”, she joked.