To honor their late mother, Delores "Elsie" McKenzie, and to raise money for three local organizations, Robbie and Steve McKenzie and friends are sponsoring the third annual "Elsiepalooza" music festival on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the home of Robbie McKenzie in Carthage.

"This year will be the best yet," says Robbie McKenzie. "We have some new bands and some of the same great bands that everyone has come to expect, along with all the fun of a family picnic."

For the past two years, the McKenzie Brothers Band has headlined a local all-star lineup, including the Randy Hughes Band, The Cowboy Band, Joyner, Young & Marie and Java Mules.

Joining these bands for the all-day event this year are Tom "Lefty" Compa, the Hot Rods and Stone Hollow.

Just as last year, the McKenzies will divide all the money raised through donations, food and T-shirt sales among The Arc of Moore County, the Sandhills/ Moore Coalition for Human Care and the Sandhills Food Bank. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Food Bank.

"All of the money we raise will be given to these organizations that meant a lot to our mother," Robbie McKenzie says.

Last year, more than $4,000 was raised for local helping organizations.

In addition to the music, Talbert's Catering will be selling food and there will be raffles and the sale of the famous one-of-a-kind "Elsiepalooza" T-shirts.

People are invited to bring their own picnics and lawn chairs and plan to stay all day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The festival will take place on the sprawling lawn at the home of Robbie and Liz McKenzie on Summerhill Church Road in Carthage. There will be signs from U.S. 15-501 pointing the way.

For more information, call 603-1484, or visit the McKenzie Brothers Web site at www.back ground drunks.com.