A SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER

Margaret Dumont, the Marx Brothers' favorite celluloid society matron, will be revived to emcee "A Night at the Opera," the Opera Camerata of Washington's benefit at the Renaissance Hotel. The event also benefits the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Also promised: Marx Brothers impersonators and the very real DC String Ensemble. Tickets: $75. Call 202-663-9018.

"In Celebration," the FANS (Friends Assisting the National Symphony Orchestra) gala honoring the orchestra's 65th season and benefiting the orchestra's educational programs, offers dinner parties at restaurants and private homes with guest hosts and special guests, an NSO concert, and a post-concert reception with dancing and champagne at the Kennedy Center. Tickets: $130 for members, $150 for non-members. Tickets to the reception only: $45. Call 202-416-8090.

The National Rifle Association's Governor's Dinner to Benefit the Hungry, a formal dinner and dance at the McLean home of Warren and Joan Polk, benefits the efforts of Virginia Hunters Who Care to provide venison to the hungry. Virginia Gov. George Allen is the co-host. Contributions start at $500. Call 703-267-1517.

Sept. 10

The "Prelude to the Season" gala to benefit the Fairfax Symphony is at the McLean home of Sen. Charles S. Robb (D-Va.) and Lynda Robb. The evening offers a buffet and entertainment featuring pianist Santiago Rodriguez and baritone Dominic Cossa. $500 per couple. Call 703-642-7200.

Sept. 11

The Harriet Kassman 1995 Fall Fashion Event to benefit Arena Stage is at the Chevy Chase store. Tickets: $60. Call 202-363-1870.

Sept. 12

At B. Smith's restaurant, a reception to open "A Tribute to Jackie -- The Jacques Lowe Photo Exhibition" benefits the Leukemia Society's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Lymphoma Research Fund. A buffet dinner is also offered. (The exhibit of photographs by Lowe, the Kennedys' personal photographer and official White House photographer, will be on view at Union Station's West Hall from Sept. 13 to Oct. 6.) Tickets: $150 (or $250per couple) to the reception; $250 (or $400 per couple) to the reception and buffet. Call 703-960-1100.

"Senseless Acts of Beauty," the Eric Hampton Dance company's fifth annual benefit for the Whitman-Walker Clinic, features a performance by the company at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. A reception follows. Tickets: $35 for the performance only, $75 with the reception. Call 202-467-0774.

Sept. 13

House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the guest of honor, and Mary Matalin, John H. Sununu and Armstrong Williams are the celebrity hosts of the H. Lee Atwater Foundation Inaugural Celebration at the National Building Museum. The foundation provides scholarships to needy students and grants to educators and educational institutions. Tickets: $250 and $500. Call 202-467-6500.

Sept. 14

Women in Film & Video and Saks Fifth Avenue are sponsors of "A Fashion Workshop and Style Show for the Women of the '90s" at the Chevy Chase Saks. Wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Tickets: $15 in advance or $20 at the reception desk on the second level. Call 202-232-2254.

The Georgetown Business & Professional Association and the Heisman Fine Arts Gallery are hosts of a benefit art show and auction in the old Conran's location at Georgetown Park. Funds raised from the event will be used for beautification projects in Georgetown. Tickets: $10.. Call 202-944-4411.

Sept. 15

"A Magia do Rio Antigo" is the theme of the 1995 Wolf Trap Ball on the Filene Center stage. Brazilian vocalist Eliana Pittman will perform with a Brazilian ensemble. Dancing follows to the music of Odyssey. Tickets start at $250. Call 202-255-1941.

Sept. 16

The Smithsonian Associates' Young Benefactors annual Blast-Off Black-Tie Gala is at the National Air and Space Museum. Proceeds from the gala and a silent auction are earmarked for the Smithsonian's research and educational programs. Tickets: $70 and $115, which include a one-year Young Benefactors membership. Call 202-357-1352.

Sept. 22

The preview dinner for The Washington Post's Super Sale, which benefits the Nina Hyde Breast Cancer Research Center at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center, is at the Renaissance Hotel. Tickets: $200. Call 202-334-7969. The sale September 23 at the Renaissance is a shopping extravaganza featuring new and used quality donated goods. Tickets: $15. Call 202-334-4774.

The International Children's Festival Gala, the fund-raiser for the festival now in its 25th year at Wolf Trap, is at the McLean Hilton. Tickets start at $125. Call 703-642-0862. The festival, which is produced by the Arts Council of Fairfax County, is Sept. 23 and 24 at Wolf Trap.

Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra will entertain at the 1995 HOPE Ball at the Sheraton Washington Hotel. The evening includes cocktails, a silent auction and dinner. Proceeds support Project HOPE health education programs in more than 20 countries, including the United States. Tickets: $250. Call Dale Jordan at 703-837-2100.

A Decatur House benefit that recognizes and commemorates Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's leadership in preserving Lafayette Square at Decatur House includes a cocktail buffet followed by dancing to the music of the Ward Marsten Orchestra in the historic property's garden courtyard. Tickets: $150. Call 202-842-0920.

Two events sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses and benefiting their scholarship fund -- one a concert, one an evening fashion show -- are at the Washington Convention Center. Tickets to the concert start at $40; tickets to the fashion show start at $75. Call 202-675-6730.

Sept. 23

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 25th-anniversary awards dinner, at the Washington Convention Center, also benefits the CBC Spouses Education Scholarship Fund. Tickets start at $500. Also on the 23rd: the CBC prayer breakfast and the CBC Spouses luncheon fashion show. Breakfast tickets start at $40. Luncheon tickets start at $75. Call 202-675-6730.

Sept. 26

The Hispanic Designers Gala Fashion Show and Benefit is at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. The evening benefits the 1995 Hispanic Designers Scholarship Fund. Tickets start at $350. Call 202-452-0092.

Sept. 28

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society's 17th annual Ambassadors Ball -- honoring the members of the diplomatic corps -- is at the Grand Hyatt Washington. Tickets start at $250. Call 202-296-5363.

Sept. 29

The Women's Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra's 1995 Decorators' Show House Preview Gala begins at this year's house, Boxwood, in Chevy Chase. Dinner and dancing follow at the Chevy Chase Club. Tickets: $150. Call 202-416-8150.

The 1995 Woodlawn Victory Ball at Woodlawn Plantation, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, benefits the historic property's capital improvement projects. The evening will have a nostalgic 1940s theme, and will include cocktails, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. Tickets start at $250. Call 703-273-9320.

Sept. 30

The 25th anniversary of So Others Might Eat and the inauguration of the SOME Health Center will be celebrated at a gala dinner honoring the Rev. John Adams and poet Maya Angelou at the Washington Hilton. The evening includes cocktails, dinner and entertainment by the Hubcaps. There is also a raffle. Tickets start at $125. Call 301-229-1314.

The American Horticultural Society's Gala in the Garden, a party and auction, will be held at George Washington's River Farm, the society's national headquarters. Gala proceeds go toward the restoration of River Farm, both as a historic property and as a center for horticultural and environmental education. Tickets start at $60. Call 703-768-5700.

The Washington Performing Arts Society's 30th-anniversary celebration offers dinner at the City Club; a concert by Michael Feinstein with the Howard University Jazz Ensemble at the Warner Theatre; and birthday cake, champagne, dessert and coffee at the Homer Building. The evening benefits the society's community programs. Tickets: $300. Tickets for the concert and reception only: $75 and $150. Call 202-833-9800, Ext. 13.Concert tickets only: $30 -- $36.50. Call TicketMaster at 301-808-6900.

Articles appear as they were originally printed in The Washington Post and may not include subsequent corrections.