South Bay families celebrate New Year with "Frozen"

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Wednesday night's cold weather couldn't keep families at home in San Jose. Christmas in the Park offered a free, outdoor showing of Disney's "Frozen" on New Year's Eve.

Hundreds of people converged at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez in Downtown San Jose, relishing the family-friendly free entertainment.

"I researched, and researched, and researched things that we could do with the kids because we had no one to watch them and this was by far and wide the best option, so we're really, really grateful that they offered it," Santa Cruz resident Leigh Knight said.

As for the chill, well that just added to the "Frozen" experience for the Knights. Leigh said, "We've got mittens, we've got boots, we've got layers, we're perfect."

Others weren't quite as prepared. San Jose resident Ryan Wallace held is toddler and joked, "The bad news is Mom wanted her in a hat and gloves, so I'm in trouble now."

Fortunately Wallace's daughter, Jocelyn, loves the cold just like her idol Elsa. She said "Frozen" was her favorite movie.

The 35th annual Christmas In the Park ends New Year's Day.

The children received a bedtime-friendly countdown to the East Coast's New Year at 9 p.m. PT.

One of the event organizers said, "We actually got a lot of compliments from people saying thank you so much for doing something like this."