11:13 AM EDT on Monday, October 18, 2004

By AMY LEHTONEN / WCNC.com

‘American Idol’ star Clay Aiken returned to familiar surroundings Saturday at Carowinds.

The UNCC graduate performed at the Paladium Amphitheare in front of hundreds of fans wearing a shirt, tie and jeans.

“Man it’s good to be home,” Aiken said after he walked out on stage.

6NEWS

Clay Aiken performed Saturday at Carowinds.

Aiken will also perform at the North Carolina State Fair Monday as he wraps up his first-ever solo headlining tour. Both of his performances are sold out.

The State Fair is the nation's largest 10-day agricultural fair, generating millions of dollars, and last year it drew 834,000 people.

Aiken will perform Monday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Kimberley Locke, who also appeared on American Idol with Aiken, performed Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Aiken began his solo tour July 6 in Bismarck, North Dakota. The 42-date tour was to promote Aiken's album Measure of a Man, which has already sold nearly three million copies. Eight of his concerts were at state fairs.

The North Carolina State Fair is Aiken’s last stop of the tour.