Crowds in S.F., Oakland brave cold for New Year’s Eve celebration

New Year's fireworks light up the night sky above the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge as seen from the Oakland hills in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, January 1, 2015. New Year's fireworks light up the night sky above the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge as seen from the Oakland hills in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, January 1, 2015. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Crowds in S.F., Oakland brave cold for New Year’s Eve celebration 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

The new year arrived in San Francisco to the sizzle and boom of high-flying fireworks as tens of thousands of people braved the chilly weather Wednesday night and packed the Embarcadero to welcome in 2015.

Chloe Xie, a seven-year-old from San Bruno, gave the fireworks a rave review.

“The noise didn’t scare me and I thought it was very exciting,” she said. “I liked that they had all types of fireworks, but the happy faces were best.”

Protesters against police violence were out among the crowds, with a handful of demonstrators arrested in Oakland after tossing bottles at police.

Though temperatures dipped into the 40s after sunset, revelers mobbed the waterfront, seeking prime viewing spots for the spectacular midnight fireworks display.

Entrepreneurs selling light-up plastic swords and flashing 2015 “sunglasses” did a brisk business.

“All the people want to shine bright tonight,” said Elizabeth Vargas, 40, who was with three generations of family members from Oakland, all selling sparkling hats and toys.

"It's a lot of fun for us too," Vargas said. "Everyone's really happy."

Nazifa Fedai, 21, joined 19 members of her family coming in from Tracy just for the fireworks and other festivities.

“We all wanted to be together to celebrate,” said Fedai after the family had taken one of many planned group photos in front of the Ferry Building. "We plan to stay all night."

Protesters gathered at the Embarcadero BART Station to demonstrate against recent police shootings of unarmed black men, a small-scale reprise of efforts that sent thousands of protesters marching throughout San Francisco and the East Bay in November and December.

About 50 people were involved in the San Francisco protest, holding signs and banners, including one reading, “No new year under this old system.”

They marched briefly and without incident down the Embarcadero, accompanied by dozens of police officers.

In Oakland, a crowd of about 100 gathered outside city hall and then marched down Broadway for about half an hour before someone in the crowd threw a firework at an officer and a trash can was lobbed at a patrol car.

Police declared an unlawful assembly at about 10:30 p.m. and began making arrests. Much of the group quickly dispersed into surrounding streets as confused party goers came out of nearby bars to see what was going on.

Police in riot gear continued to trail the group and about a dozen people were led away in handcuffs.

In San Francisco, though, the party outshined the protests.

Waiting in line with a dozen others to get a table at Hog Island Oyster at the Ferry Building, Rose Gauthier, 22, said she came up from Los Angeles to celebrate with friends. The trio, the women dressed in short glittery dresses that didn’t offer much buffer against the cold, were heading to a party at the W hotel after dinner.

“We’re all recent grads, starting new jobs, so it’s an exciting and fun time,” Gauthier said. “Everything is new for us this year.”

Erin Allday and Kale Williams are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: eallday@sfchronicle.com, kwilliams@sfchronicle.com