Planning a graduation party or quinceañera in North Lauderdale with more guests than a park shelter can hold? The Center for Spiritual Living rents event space at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, about 14 minutes from North Lauderdale. The Main Auditorium seats 110 for dinner or 275 auditorium-style, and on-site parking holds 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- From North Lauderdale: about 7.8 miles, about 14 minutes via McNab Road, NW 31st Avenue and Commercial Boulevard (typical; traffic varies)
- Party seating: 110 at thirteen 60-inch round tables in the Main Auditorium
- Ceremony or program seating: up to 275 auditorium-style
- Arrivals and photos: Welcome Lobby for up to 200 cocktail-style
- Smaller parties: Multipurpose Room for up to 70 cocktail-style
- Kitchen and parking: kitchen included with the auditorium or Multipurpose Room; on-site parking for 150 vehicles
- Book: Jim Wood, Director of Operations, 954-566-2868
Why North Lauderdale families look to Oakland Park for big parties
North Lauderdale is a young city. At the 2020 census its median age was 33.8, more than a quarter of residents (27.1%) were under 18, and 43.8% of households had children at home. That adds up to a lot of graduations, sweet sixteens and quinceañeras every year.
The city’s own rental facilities are built for smaller gatherings. The shelters at Hampton Pines Park are listed for 40 people or fewer (small shelter) and 50 to 60 people (large shelter). Once your guest list includes classmates, teammates, godparents and both sides of the family, you need a room that seats more than 100 and a place to put everyone’s cars.
That is where our venue in Oakland Park comes in. The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale welcomes events of every kind and every background. Graduations and birthdays are listed right on our rental page, and your party does not need to be spiritual in any way.
How far is it from North Lauderdale?
From the middle of North Lauderdale, the drive is about 7.8 miles and typically about 14 minutes. The route runs from Kimberly Boulevard and Southwest 71st Avenue to West McNab Road, south on Northwest 31st Avenue, then east on Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) all the way to North Dixie Highway.
That is a typical estimate from the city center, not a traffic-adjusted time. Traffic varies, so ask guests to leave a little early if your program starts on the hour. Out-of-town relatives can simply plug in 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, FL 33334.
Families on the other side of the line may also like our posts on event space near Tamarac, party venues near Margate and celebration space near Lauderdale Lakes.
Graduation parties, quinceañeras and sweet sixteens
Graduation parties
A graduation party often doubles as a family reunion. Grandparents want a chair and a plate, classmates want music and a photo spot, and parents want a place to say a few words. The Main Auditorium gives you round tables for 110 and a stage for speeches or a slideshow of baby pictures. Graduates who share friends can even team up on a joint party and split the guest list across one room.
Quinceañeras
In 2020, 26.12% of North Lauderdale residents were Hispanic or Latino, and a quinceañera is one of the biggest nights a family will host. The format fits the space well. Guests gather in the Welcome Lobby for photos, the court makes its entrance into the auditorium, and the stage area is ready for the waltz, the toast and the father-daughter dance before dinner is served at the rounds.
Sweet sixteens and kids’ birthdays
For a sweet sixteen or a big birthday with 40 to 70 guests, the Multipurpose Room may be the better fit. It holds up to 70 cocktail-style, includes four round tables and six high-top cocktail tables, and has kitchen access for cake and snacks. Our team will help you plan a layout, since not every included table and chair fits in the room at once.
Which room fits your guest count?
All capacities below are from our venue rental page.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Quinceañeras, graduation dinners, school and team banquets |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail; 50 auditorium-style; 40 conference-style | Sweet sixteens, kids’ birthdays, small graduation open houses |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Arrivals, photo backdrops, dessert and mingling |
A quick rule of thumb: if everyone needs a seat at a table for a meal, plan on the Main Auditorium once you pass about 40 guests, since the Multipurpose Room’s four rounds seat 8 to 10 each. If people will mingle and graze, the Multipurpose Room or Welcome Lobby can take more.
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
Hauling in tables and chairs is a project of its own. With the Main Auditorium, these come with the room:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables (seating 8 each) with basic linens
- Rectangular buffet tables in three sizes with basic linens, and six 34-inch square card tables for gifts, cake or a guest book
- Six 24-inch high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex
- 275 tan banquet chairs, plus two blue linen couches and two club chairs
- Place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses
- Kitchen access and complimentary password-protected Wi-Fi
The kitchen has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders. That’s room to keep a sheet cake cold, stage trays from your caterer or reheat food a relative cooked at home. There is no additional charge for kitchen use with the Main Auditorium or the Multipurpose Room.
Setting the scene: lobby arrivals, dinner layout and program space
The arrival
The 1,418 sq ft Welcome Lobby is where first impressions happen. Set up a photo backdrop, a gift table and a sign-in book near the Guest Services desk. With room for up to 200 standing, guests can mingle while the family finishes last-minute details.
The dinner layout
The room seats up to 110 for dinner at its thirteen 60-inch rounds. Reserve a family table near the stage, put the buffet along one wall and keep a clear center for dancing.
The program
The stage works for a court entrance, a DJ, a slideshow or a graduate’s thank-you speech. The professional sound and video booth handles projection and can stream the night for relatives who can’t make it, staffed by the Center’s team with fees quoted on inquiry. Our stage also hosts concerts and performances through The Arts at CSL.
Planning checklist for your North Lauderdale event
- Count guests honestly, including plus-ones, little kids and the friends who always show up.
- Choose a format: seated dinner (up to 110 in the auditorium) or a mingling party (up to 70 in the Multipurpose Room).
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 with your preferred date and a backup, and ask for a quote.
- Tour the space with the honoree. Teens have opinions about where the photo wall goes.
- Line up your caterer, DJ and decorator, and ask the Director of Operations to walk you through policies and setup times.
- Plan the program: entrance, toast, dances, cake, slideshow.
- Request projection or streaming if you want them, so the Center’s AV team can be scheduled.
- Send invitations with the full address and a note that parking is on site.
When to book: late spring graduation season
Graduation parties cluster in May and June, when every family in the class is looking at the same few weekends. If you’re planning a late-spring party, start calling in winter.
North Lauderdale’s own calendar keeps families busy too. North Lauderdale Days brings vendors, live music and a closing fireworks show, Hampton Pines Park hosts the Haunted Hamptons every Halloween, and City Hall hosts a Christmas event. If your celebration lands near one of those, check dates early. You can also see what is already scheduled in our building on the CSL calendar.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from North Lauderdale
North Lauderdale was laid out by architect Morris Lapidus as “The City of Tomorrow,” complete with the curving Boulevard of Champions. Our arrival is more straightforward: an on-site lot for up to 150 vehicles and a short walk into the Welcome Lobby. Grandparents can be dropped at the door, and the DJ and caterer can unload without fighting for street parking.
For a teen party, ask parents to share rides. It keeps the lot calm and gets everyone home together. Families with younger kids may also want to look at our youth programs. For a broader look at venues across the county, see our Broward County event venue guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from North Lauderdale?
The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 7.8 miles and about 14 minutes from central North Lauderdale. The typical route uses West McNab Road, Northwest 31st Avenue and Commercial Boulevard. Times are typical estimates and traffic varies.
Can we host a quinceañera or graduation party for more than 100 guests?
Yes. The Main Auditorium seats up to 110 for a seated dinner at 60-inch round tables and up to 275 auditorium-style for a ceremony or program. The Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 for arrivals and photos.
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 microwaves, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders.
What are some free venues for small parties in Broward County?
Many families use a backyard, a community clubhouse or a city park, and some cities rent park shelters for groups of roughly 40 to 60. When a party outgrows those, a rented room adds tables, chairs, a kitchen and parking. Our Multipurpose Room holds up to 70 cocktail-style, and pricing is by inquiry with Jim Wood at 954-566-2868.
What are some small party venues near Fort Lauderdale?
For a small party, look for a room sized to your guest list so it feels full, with tables and chairs included and parking close by. In Oakland Park, just north of Fort Lauderdale, our Multipurpose Room holds up to 70 cocktail-style or 40 conference-style and includes round tables, high-tops, chairs 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 up to 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style. The Welcome Lobby holds up to 200 cocktail-style.
Do we have to be members or share CSL’s beliefs to rent the space?
Graduations, birthdays, weddings and many other non-religious celebrations are listed among the events the venue hosts, and groups of every background are welcome. For any requirements that apply to your party, ask Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
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 with your date and guest count.
Your graduate or quinceañera only gets one of these nights. Come walk the rooms with them before you decide. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 or message us to book a tour, and browse the party room photos and capacities in the meantime.
