Yes, that was the date. Although - slight bragging - I managed to get an invitation to a pre-show couple of days earlier.
I still remember how every hair in my neck rose up when Galadriel started speaking, I almost jumped and cheered when the orcs hit the thin elven line and were effortlessly stopped and had to wipe my eyes when Arwen said "Noro lim Asfaloth", and... That was quite an evening!
The movies are still excellent and very impressive but the first time which was excitement mixed with fear because every single LotR movie or TV show before had been so bad, that was something. And the collective sigh of relief when the fans realised that PJ hadn't messed up.
-- Pasi