WRENTHAM -- Local "American Idol" contestant Ayla Brown was treated to a warm welcome home Sunday, as thousands of area residents turned out to greet the 17-year-old at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, fresh off her Top 16 "Idol" run.

(View photos in the photo gallery.)

Brown was eliminated from the national competition last Thursday night after a performance of "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield on Tuesday. Balloons, banners reading "We Love You!" and chocolate cake were just part of what waited for Brown at the food court Sunday morning.

Five-year-old Elise Pereira of Plainville, for one, displayed her own homemade gift as she waited for Brown to appear -- three index cards with drawings Pereira colored herself, including a "Hello Kitty" reproduction and a picture of Brown wearing a pink top.

"My daughter's a big fan," said Carla Pereira of Elise, who turns 6 in two weeks. The young Pereira may have had some insider information about Brown's wardrobe, as Brown later entered the food court wearing a pink shirt similar to the one Pereria had drawn, flanked by police escorts.

The first sight of Brown drew thunderous applause and high-pitched screams.

When she took center stage, Brown called the reception a "great way to come home."

"I want to thank you all tremendously for the support you've shown," Brown said. "Coming back home I just see the support '85 it just makes my heart so warm."

"I wanted to be that role model for you guys," she said.

Several others took the stage to express their pride for Brown, including state Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham; Tom Lynch, principal of the Delaney School in Wrentham; and Brown's grandparents, Bruce Brown and Anne Deaver.

"We are so proud of her, in so many ways, not just in music, or sports, but as a person," Deaver said.

"And we love you," she said, turning to her granddaughter.

Also on hand were "Ayla's mom and dad," as they've come to be known in recent weeks -- WCVB-TV newscaster Gail Huff and state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.

Huff, obviously emotional, said she's glad to have Brown back with her family, though she's less excited about Simon Cowell's ability as a judge. "Simon doesn't know what he's talking about anyway," she said.

Later, Brown signed autographs for a long line of fans. And apparently you can never have too many Ayla Brown signatures.

Jodi Cullity, 11, of Wrentham, got four -- on her Red Sox bag, a sweatshirt, a King Philip High School jersey, and a photograph of Brown performing at Attleboro's Hottest Act In Town a few years ago.

Cullity said Brown is a family friend who has stayed down to earth despite her recent rise to fame.

"She cares about her friends and family," she said. "She's not like 'oh, I'm famous now, leave me alone."

Brown may not have had enough votes to win the competition, but Meghan Rico of Wrentham was doing her part.

"I voted like 80 times," the 12-year-old said. 'When her CD comes out we're going to be the first to buy it."

LAUREN CARTER can be reached at 508-236-0339 or at lcarter@thesunchronicle.com.