Is there an event venue near Dania Beach that can hold a church anniversary banquet or a memorial service? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, is about 17 minutes up I-95 from Dania Beach. Its Main Auditorium seats 275 for a service or 110 for a seated banquet, and its lot parks 150 cars.
At a glance
- From Dania Beach: about 17 minutes and 12.5 miles by car, mostly on I-95 (typical time; traffic varies).
- Main Auditorium: 2,944 sq ft; 275 auditorium-style for a service or program, 110 for a seated banquet.
- Welcome Lobby: 1,418 sq ft; up to 200 cocktail-style for a fellowship hour or repast.
- Multipurpose Room: 1,026 sq ft; 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style.
- Sound and streaming: professional booth with projection, livestreaming and a presidential teleprompter.
- Parking and kitchen: 150 on-site parking spaces; kitchen access and place settings for 200.
- To book: call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Why Dania Beach congregations and families look to Oakland Park
Dania Beach has deep roots. It began as a neighborhood called Modello, was incorporated in November 1904 as the Town of Dania because most of its 35 residents were farmers of Danish ancestry, and formally became the City of Dania Beach in 1998. Over that long history, its churches have carried a great deal of the community’s story.
During segregation, the first school for Black students in Dania met in St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church. The city’s community events listings include a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, as shown on the City of Dania Beach events pages. Congregations with that kind of heritage hold anniversary banquets, pastor appreciation dinners and history programs, and those gatherings often outgrow a fellowship hall.
When a church or heritage group needs room for a full sanctuary-sized crowd plus a sit-down meal, the Center’s Main Auditorium and Welcome Lobby give them both, a short drive north.
How far is it from Dania Beach?
From the center of Dania Beach, the venue is about 12.5 miles by car, typically about 17 minutes. The usual route takes Stirling Road (SR 848) to I-95, runs north on I-95 for about nine miles, then exits east on Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) to North Dixie Highway.
These are typical free-flow estimates measured from the middle of the city, not traffic-adjusted. I-95 traffic can change a 17-minute drive into a longer one, so for a Sunday afternoon program or a weekday memorial, tell guests to leave early. Families starting near Antique Row on Federal Highway or Dania Pointe downtown will see slightly different times.
Church anniversaries, heritage programs and celebrations of life
Church anniversary and pastor appreciation banquets
An anniversary banquet usually blends worship and celebration: a processional, a choir selection, remarks from the pastor and guests, a historical presentation, then dinner. The Main Auditorium can be set with round tables for 110 guests, with room at the front for the choir and speakers. For a larger program-only service, rows of seats hold up to 275.
Black History Month and heritage programs
February programs often feature a speaker, a slideshow of photographs and documents, music and youth readings. The professional sound and video booth can project archival images on screen and run microphones for readers and singers. A heritage group can follow the program with a reception in the Welcome Lobby, where display tables hold photo boards and memorabilia.
Homegoing services and repasts
The venue also welcomes end-of-life celebrations. A family can hold the homegoing or memorial service in the Main Auditorium, stream it for relatives who can’t make the trip, and then gather in the lobby or around dinner tables for the repast. You can see the Center’s own streaming on its livestream page.
Bilingual family milestones and business meetings
Dania Beach is home to many Hispanic families (31.1% of residents in the 2020 census), and birthdays, quinceañeras and anniversaries fit the same dinner setup. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport also sits inside Dania Beach city limits, so a company bringing in visitors for a training day can use the Multipurpose Room, which seats 40 conference-style.
Which room fits your guest count?
Church events often have two numbers: everyone who attends the service, and everyone who stays for the meal. Plan for both.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style, 110 seated dinner | Anniversary services and banquets, homegoing services, heritage programs |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Fellowship hour, repast reception, history displays |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style, 40 conference-style | Choir warm-up, family holding room, business meetings |
The rent our space page lists the furniture and features of every room.
Plan your church or family event
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
Church hospitality committees will appreciate how much comes with a Main Auditorium rental:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables, seating 8 each, with basic linens
- Rectangular buffet tables in three sizes, perfect for a serving line, with basic linens
- Six square card tables and six high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex
- 275 tan banquet chairs, two blue linen couches and two blue linen club chairs
- Place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses
- Password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi
Kitchen access comes with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room. The kitchen has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders. A caterer or the church’s own kitchen ministry will have room to stage the meal.
Planning tip: For an anniversary banquet, ask your church historian to prepare a short slideshow of photos from past decades. Run it on the auditorium screen while guests find their seats, and the room fills with stories before the program even starts.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter
The Main Auditorium’s professional sound and video booth includes projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter, and it is staffed by the Center’s team. That means your choir director can focus on the choir and your family can focus on each other.
Streaming is especially valuable for homegoing services and milestone anniversaries, when former members and relatives live far away. Equipment and operator fees are by inquiry, so share your program with Jim Wood and ask what it will need.
Planning checklist for your Dania Beach event
- Confirm the date with your pastor, board or family, then call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check availability and get a quote.
- Count two numbers: guests at the service and guests at the meal.
- Choose rooms: auditorium for the program, lobby for fellowship, Multipurpose Room for the choir or family.
- Write the order of service, including music, speakers and any slideshow.
- Send photos, videos and song files to the booth team ahead of time.
- Arrange the meal with your caterer or hospitality committee, planning around the kitchen.
- Decide whether to livestream and share the link with distant members and relatives.
- Give guests the address, 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, and the I-95 route.
When to book: February and year-round
February is Black History Month, and heritage programs and anniversary celebrations often land in that window. If your congregation or organization wants a February date, start planning in the fall.
Memorials and homegoing services are different. They come with little notice, so call as soon as you have a tentative date and Jim Wood will tell you what is open. Church anniversaries tied to a founding date are known well in advance, so there is no reason to wait before asking about availability.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from Dania Beach
The on-site lot holds up to 150 vehicles. For a large congregation, consider a church van or carpools from the home sanctuary, which also helps elders who would rather not drive I-95.
Guests walk from the lot straight into the Welcome Lobby. Station ushers there with programs, and use the Guest Services desk for the guest book or a memorial register.
A spiritual home that hosts every tradition
The venue belongs to the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale. Its rental list includes religious and spiritual events alongside weddings, banquets, conferences and graduations, and it welcomes events of every kind and every background. Your congregation brings its own worship, music and traditions. You can learn about the Center’s Sunday service or the community partners it works with.
Planning in a neighboring city? See our guides to an event venue near Hollywood, event space near Hallandale Beach and venues near Fort Lauderdale, or the Broward County event venue overview.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Dania Beach?
The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 12.5 miles from central Dania Beach, typically about 17 minutes by car. The usual route takes Stirling Road to I-95 north, then Commercial Boulevard east. Times are typical estimates and traffic varies.
Can our church hold its anniversary banquet here?
The venue welcomes religious and spiritual events, banquets and celebrations. The Main Auditorium seats 110 for a seated banquet or 275 for a service, with tables, linens and place settings for 200 included. Call Jim Wood to discuss your program and available dates.
What is a reception after a funeral called?
It is often called a repast, especially in Black church tradition, and it may also be called a funeral reception, a memorial reception or a fellowship meal. At the Center for Spiritual Living, families often hold it in the Welcome Lobby, which holds up to 200, or at dinner tables in the Main Auditorium.
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 Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 cocktail-style, and the Multipurpose Room holds 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style.
Can we livestream a memorial or church program?
Yes. The Main Auditorium’s professional sound and video booth includes streaming capabilities and is staffed by the Center’s team. Equipment and operator fees are by inquiry.
Do we have to be members or share CSL’s beliefs to rent the space?
The Center hosts a wide range of events, both secular and religious, from weddings and conferences to spiritual gatherings of many kinds. For the rental policies that apply to your congregation or family, call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Is there Wi-Fi for presenters and guests?
Yes. Password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi is available during your rental, which is handy for presenters, musicians using backing tracks and guests sharing photos.
How do I get a rental quote and check dates?
Pricing is by inquiry. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 for availability and a quote, or send a message through the contact page.
We would be glad to show your pastor, committee or family around. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868, contact us online, or read more about renting event space in Oakland Park before you visit.
