Sea lions Maya and Lilly show off their b-ball skills at the Yuba Sutter Fair two weekends ago in Yuba City. Photo by Chris Pedigo

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Despite soaring temperatures, the Yuba-Sutter Fair made quite the splash as guests poured in from across the region. This annual weekend-long shindig ran from June 20 to 23 in Yuba City, featuring many of its signature attractions and vendors.

But there was one act in particular that stood out from among the crowd.

“It's incredible that they brought this here, brilliant. This has to be the best fair they’ve had in years,” said Robert Fischetti, a local pastor and head of 93Q radio. “I mean this is a native California animal that not everyone gets the chance to see. Now it's right here for them to experience.”

Fischetti was referring to the new Sea Lion Splash show featuring none other than the California sea lion. Sea Lion Splash bills itself as the only traveling, self-contained sea lion attraction. The company’s presentations pair comedy with education with opportunities to witness both natural behaviors and performative tricks. Ring toss, ball balancing and flipper handstands were all included on the “set list.”

 Sea lion trainer Suzy Bartholo encourages one of her sea lion performers to show off their handstand tricks at the Yuba Sutter Fair two weekends ago in Yuba City. Photo by Chris Pedigo

“They are local animals so it's nice to see how smart they are, what they can do onstage, it's nothing crazy,” said Willian Tavares, the show's photographer.

Following each performance, guests were encouraged to come take a photo with the show’s stars: Maya and Lilly.

“Their whiskers touched my face!” exclaimed an excited child clinging to their photo souvenir.

While the sea lions might have been a local hit, trainers on site said their presence hasn’t always been well received. Derogatory comments online and public confrontations have accused the team of animal abuse, demanding that the creatures be released back into the ocean.

 A sea lion jumps through a hoop held by trainer Suzy Bartholo at the Yuba-Sutter Fair two weekends ago in Yuba City. Photo by Chris Pedigo

“People, they don't understand, and they don't want to know so there’s nothing we can say,” said Suzy Bartholo, one of the show's primary sea lion handlers. “We have 17 sea lions; they cannot go back to the ocean and most of them cannot be in the show or entertainment, and we don’t have support. So these girls (Maya and Lilly) work to feed the animals at home.”

Some of the reported incidents include repeated shark attacks, failure to thrive and pollution-related illnesses.

The importance of recycling was also highlighted in the performance, noting the dangers that discarded plastics can pose to marine life.

“I really love animals. You have to love them to work in this business,” added Bartholo.

Bartholo is from Brazil and grew up in a circus family watching her father care for elephants. She has been working with Sea Lion Splash, part of Capitol International Productions, for the past two years and spends much of her time on the road traveling to various events and expos. She and her team are now headed to Texas and hope to return to the Yuba-Sutter region next year.

 Sea lion trainer Suzy Bartholo dances with one of her sea lion performers at the Yuba Sutter Fair two weekends ago in Yuba City. Photo by Chris Pedigo