Looking for an event venue or banquet hall in Broward County? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale rents its venue at 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, within a typical drive of about 3 to 33 minutes from 24 Broward cities, including about 12 minutes from Fort Lauderdale. The Main Auditorium seats 275, or 110 for a seated dinner, with parking for 150.
At a glance
- Location: 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, FL 33334, in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.
- Drive times: about 3 to 33 minutes from the 24 Broward cities in the table below (typical, not traffic-adjusted).
- Rooms: Main Auditorium (275 auditorium-style, 110 seated dinner), Multipurpose Room (70 cocktail, 50 auditorium, 40 conference), Welcome Lobby (200 cocktail).
- Parking: on-site lot for up to 150 vehicles.
- Kitchen: no additional charge with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room; place settings for 200 with the auditorium.
- AV: professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming and a presidential teleprompter, staffed by the Center’s team.
- Pricing and booking: by inquiry with Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Where the venue is: 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park
Broward County is big and spread out. Fort Lauderdale alone is the largest of the county’s 31 municipalities, and a venue that’s convenient for half your guests can be a long haul for the other half. Location is the first thing to get right.
The Center for Spiritual Living sits on North Dixie Highway (SR 811) in Oakland Park, part of the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Dixie Highway runs north to Pompano Beach and south toward Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale, and East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) connects the venue to I-95 and the western cities, and to the beach in the other direction. In our route data, most trips from the western and southern cities end with the same short run east on Commercial Boulevard from I-95.
The building itself is a light-filled venue with three rentable spaces and a kitchen, run by a spiritual community that welcomes events of every kind and every background. Your event doesn’t need to be spiritual. The rental page lists weddings, banquets, conferences, concerts, fundraisers and graduations, and that’s the range we plan for.
Driving times from across Broward
Here’s how long the drive typically takes from the center of each of 24 Broward cities, with the main roads on the route. Each city name links to a planning guide written for that community.
| City | Typical drive | Distance | Main roads | City guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland Park | about 3 min | 1.1 mi | North Dixie Highway (SR 811) | Event space near Oakland Park |
| Wilton Manors | about 6 min | 2.1 mi | Northeast 6th Avenue, North Dixie Highway (SR 811) | Event space near Wilton Manors |
| Lauderdale-by-the-Sea | about 6 min | 2.6 mi | Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea |
| Pompano Beach | about 9 min | 3.8 mi | North Dixie Highway (SR 811), South Dixie Highway (SR 811) | Event space near Pompano Beach |
| Fort Lauderdale | about 12 min | 4.9 mi | Northeast 4th Avenue, Wilton Drive (SR 811), North Dixie Highway (SR 811) | Event space near Fort Lauderdale |
| Lauderdale Lakes | about 12 min | 6.1 mi | West Oakland Park Boulevard (SR 816), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Lauderdale Lakes |
| North Lauderdale | about 14 min | 7.8 mi | West McNab Road, Northwest 31st Avenue, West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near North Lauderdale |
| Lauderhill | about 14 min | 8.2 mi | West Sunrise Boulevard (SR 838), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Lauderhill |
| Lighthouse Point | about 16 min | 8.0 mi | East Sample Road, Federal Highway (US-1), East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Lighthouse Point |
| Margate | about 16 min | 8.7 mi | Lyons Road, Northwest 31st Avenue, West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Margate |
| Tamarac | about 16 min | 9.0 mi | West McNab Road, Northwest 31st Avenue, West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Tamarac |
| Coconut Creek | about 17 min | 8.9 mi | Lyons Road, Northwest 31st Avenue, West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Coconut Creek |
| Plantation | about 17 min | 10.0 mi | West Sunrise Boulevard (SR 838), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Plantation |
| Dania Beach | about 17 min | 12.5 mi | Stirling Road (SR 848), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Dania Beach |
| Deerfield Beach | about 18 min | 12.1 mi | West Hillsboro Boulevard (SR 810), I-95, North Dixie Highway (SR 811) | Event space near Deerfield Beach |
| Sunrise | about 20 min | 10.5 mi | West Oakland Park Boulevard (CR 816), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Sunrise |
| Hollywood | about 21 min | 14.9 mi | Hollywood Boulevard (SR 820), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Hollywood |
| Davie | about 22 min | 14.7 mi | Griffin Road (SR 818), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Davie |
| Hallandale Beach | about 23 min | 16.9 mi | West Hallandale Beach Boulevard (SR 858), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Hallandale Beach |
| Coral Springs | about 26 min | 14.0 mi | North University Drive (SR 817), West McNab Road, West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Coral Springs |
| Cooper City | about 27 min | 17.4 mi | Griffin Road (SR 818), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Cooper City |
| Parkland | about 28 min | 15.4 mi | Wiles Road, North State Road 7 (US 441), West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Parkland |
| Miramar | about 29 min | 19.3 mi | Pembroke Road (SR 824), I-95, East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) | Event space near Miramar |
| Pembroke Pines | about 33 min | 21.1 mi | Pines Boulevard (SR 820), Stirling Road (SR 848), I-95 | Event space near Pembroke Pines |
A few notes on reading this table. Drive times are typical free-flow estimates measured from each city’s center point to the venue, not traffic-adjusted figures, so rush-hour trips on I-95 and Commercial Boulevard will take longer. Neighborhoods at the far edge of a large city can add several minutes. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s guide also covers Sea Ranch Lakes, and the Lighthouse Point guide covers Hillsboro Beach.
The pattern is simple: the four nearest cities are under 10 minutes away, most of central and north Broward falls in the 12 to 23 minute range, and the farthest cities in the table (Coral Springs, Cooper City, Parkland, Miramar and Pembroke Pines) are about 26 to 33 minutes. For a guest list spread across the county, a venue in this part of Oakland Park keeps the longest drive reasonable.
Which room fits your guest count?
Every number in this table comes from the rent our space page.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Weddings, banquets, galas, concerts, conferences, celebrations of life |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail-style; 50 auditorium-style; 40 conference-style | Workshops, board meetings, showers, small birthdays, breakouts |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Cocktail hours, receptions, registration, silent auctions |
Start with how your guests will be arranged. Rows of chairs (a ceremony, a lecture, a concert) let the auditorium hold the most people. Round tables for a meal bring the auditorium to 110. Standing receptions favor the lobby. A conference table for a board fits the Multipurpose Room.
Many events use more than one room. A gala can open in the lobby and move into the auditorium for dinner; a conference can run its general session in the auditorium and a breakout in the Multipurpose Room. Ask Jim Wood which combinations are available on your date.
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings, kitchen and Wi-Fi
When you compare Broward venues, look past the room itself to what comes with it. A Main Auditorium rental includes:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables (seating 8 each) with basic linens
- Two 18×72-inch, six 30×96-inch and six 18×96-inch rectangular buffet tables with basic linens
- Six 34×34-inch square card tables
- Six 24-inch round high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex
- Two blue linen couches and two blue linen club chairs
- 275 tan banquet chairs
- Place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses
- Access to the kitchen and password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi
The Multipurpose Room includes four 60-inch round tables (seating 8 to 10 each) with basic linens, the same buffet, card and high-top tables, 50 tan banquet chairs, a whiteboard, kitchen access and Wi-Fi. Not every table fits in the room at once, and the team will help you plan the right setup. The Welcome Lobby includes its Guest Services desk, two blue linen couches and two club chairs.
The kitchen supports your caterer or your own team with two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders. There’s no additional charge for kitchen use when you rent the Main Auditorium or the Multipurpose Room.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter for presentations
The Main Auditorium has a fully equipped professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter. That covers a wedding slideshow, a keynote with slides, a choir with several microphones, or a celebration of life streamed to relatives who can’t travel.
The booth is staffed by the Center’s team, so someone who knows the equipment runs it while you host. Equipment and operator fees are quoted on inquiry. To see how the Center uses streaming for its own programs, visit the livestream page.
Explore the rooms and request a quote
Event types we host
The rental page lists a wide range of gatherings: weddings, receptions and anniversaries; concerts, conferences and symposiums; dinners, banquets and social events; classes, seminars, workshops and retreats; meet-ups, networking and team-building; religious and spiritual events; graduations and birthdays; fundraisers and nonprofit events; and end-of-life celebrations.
Across Broward, the mix shifts from city to city, and each city guide leans into what its community celebrates most:
- Weddings and commitment ceremonies: our Wilton Manors guide walks through ceremony, cocktail hour and reception in one building.
- Church anniversaries, galas and Caribbean celebrations: see the Pompano Beach guide, where the city hosts an annual Caribbean Fest.
- Condo meetings and vow renewals: the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea guide covers owners’ meetings and milestone anniversaries.
- Civic, neighborhood and nonprofit events: the Oakland Park guide is written for our hometown groups.
- Quinceañeras and family milestones: Hispanic family celebrations are a lead topic in guides for cities such as Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs.
- Corporate trainings and HOA meetings: see the guides for Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
Concerts and performances have a home here too; see the arts at CSL for how the stage is used.
How to compare Broward event venues: a checklist
Use these questions with any venue on your list, including ours:
- Capacity in your layout. Ask for the number in your setup (rows, rounds or standing), not just the biggest number.
- Drive time for your guests. Plot where most guests live and check the longest typical drive, then add rush-hour time.
- Parking. Confirm on-site spaces against your headcount. Here, the lot holds up to 150 vehicles.
- What’s included. Tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware and Wi-Fi can add up quickly if they’re rented separately. Our full venue inventory lists everything that comes with each room.
- Kitchen. Ask what equipment your caterer can use and whether kitchen use costs extra.
- AV and staffing. Find out who runs sound and projection, and how streaming works.
- Accessibility. Tell the venue about guests who use wheelchairs or walkers and ask how arrival and seating will work for them.
- Policies. Ask about food and beverage, décor, outside vendors, setup times and cleanup. At the Center, the Director of Operations will walk you through policies and availability.
- The quote. Get it in writing, with every room, hour and service listed.
Planning tip: Before you tour any venue, write down three numbers: your expected guest count, the count if everyone says yes, and how many will be seated for a meal. Those three numbers decide the room faster than any photo gallery.
How rental pricing works
Rental pricing at the Center for Spiritual Living is by inquiry. There’s no published rate card; instead, Jim Wood, Director of Operations, gives you availability and a quote for your specific event.
To make that call quick, have these ready: your date (and a backup), start and end times, estimated headcount, the room or rooms you’re considering, if you’ll use the kitchen, and any sound, projection or streaming needs. If AV is part of the plan, ask about equipment and operator fees at the same time so your quote is complete.
Call 954-566-2868 or send a message through our contact page.
Who runs the venue
The building is home to the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, which rents its spaces to the wider community. You can get to know CSL, see the organizations it works with on the community partners page, and check the calendar to see what else happens in the building.
Frequently asked questions
What are some good event venues in Broward County, Florida?
A good Broward venue fits your guest count in your layout, is a reasonable drive for most guests, and includes parking and basic furniture. The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park offers a 275-seat auditorium that seats 110 for dinner, a 200-guest lobby, a multipurpose room, a kitchen and parking for 150, about 3 to 33 minutes from 24 Broward cities.
What are some free venues for small parties in Broward County?
For very small, informal gatherings, people often use a home, a backyard or a public park, and some city parks departments and libraries offer rooms or pavilions with their own rules. When you need guaranteed indoor space, furniture and a kitchen, a rental venue is the next step. The Multipurpose Room in Oakland Park holds up to 70 standing, with pricing by inquiry.
How do you get a free venue for an event?
Nonprofits and community groups sometimes find a sponsor to underwrite the rental, partner with an organization that has space, or fold the venue into ticket or sponsorship revenue. Whatever route you take, get the venue’s inclusions in writing so there are no surprise add-ons. For a quote at the Center, call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868.
What are some small party venues near Fort Lauderdale?
For 20 to 70 guests, look for a room sized to your group so it feels full and lively. The Multipurpose Room at the Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park, about 12 minutes from Fort Lauderdale, holds 70 cocktail-style or 40 conference-style and includes tables, chairs, Wi-Fi and kitchen access.
How many guests can the Center for Spiritual Living hold?
The Main Auditorium seats up to 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner. The Multipurpose Room holds 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style, and the Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 cocktail-style.
Is there parking for guests?
Yes. The venue has on-site parking for up to 150 vehicles, right at the building on North Dixie Highway in Oakland Park.
Can our caterer use the kitchen?
Yes. Kitchen use is included at no additional charge when you rent the Main Auditorium or the Multipurpose Room. It has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders.
How do I get a rental quote and check dates?
Rental pricing is by inquiry. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 for availability and a quote, or reach out through the contact page with your date, headcount and the rooms you’re considering.
Wherever you are in Broward, the best next step is to see the rooms in person. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 to book a tour and check your date. We’ll help you find the right fit for your guests, your program and your budget.
