Looking for an event space in Oakland Park, FL? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale rents its venue at 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, about 3 minutes (1.1 miles) up Dixie Highway from the middle of town. The Main Auditorium seats 275, or 110 for a seated dinner, and on-site parking holds up to 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- Location: 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, FL 33334, about 3 minutes and 1.1 miles from central Oakland Park via North Dixie Highway (SR 811).
- 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: included with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room, with two microwaves, a commercial coffee maker and two refrigerators.
- AV: professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming and a presidential teleprompter, staffed by the Center’s team.
- To book: call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Why Oakland Park groups host close to home
Most venue searches start with a map. For Oakland Park neighbors, the answer can be a few blocks away. The Center for Spiritual Living sits right on Dixie Highway, the same corridor that runs through the city’s downtown alongside the Florida East Coast Railway, so your guests are driving roads they already know.
Oakland Park has always been a place that reinvents itself. It began as Floranada, a blend of “Florida” and “Canada,” and residents voted for the name Oakland Park when the city reincorporated in 1929. Today the city is preparing for its centennial in 2029, and you can see the investment along Park Lane: Greenleaf Park opened downtown at 1300 Park Lane East on August 27, 2026, and the new Oakland Park Library opened at City Centennial Park in July 2026, according to the City of Oakland Park.
That kind of momentum brings meetings, fundraisers, reunions and parties with it. When a group outgrows a living room or a back patio, a hometown hall with real parking, a kitchen and a sound booth makes the next step easy.
The venue also matches the city’s welcoming streak. Oakland Park earned a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index, and the Center welcomes events of every kind and every background. Your event doesn’t need to have anything to do with spirituality.
How far is it from Oakland Park?
From the center of Oakland Park, the drive is about 3 minutes and 1.1 miles, almost all of it on North Dixie Highway (SR 811). Neighbors in the eastern and northern parts of the city may be even closer, while guests coming from the western neighborhoods near Andrews Avenue will add a few minutes.
These are typical drive times measured from the city’s center point, not traffic-adjusted figures. Dixie Highway and Commercial Boulevard both get busy at rush hour, so build in a cushion for weekday evening events.
Because the trip is so short, many local groups find it practical to hold a setup visit a day or two before the event, or to let committee members run back for forgotten supplies.
Community meetings, nonprofit fundraisers and neighborhood celebrations
Oakland Park’s calendar shows how much this city likes to gather. Parks & Leisure Services lists events such as Halloween Bash, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Village, Latin Fest, National Good Neighbor Day, Oktoberfest, the Dachshund Dash, Soul Fest and Taste of Oakland Park on its special events page. The groups that organize, sponsor and volunteer at events like these also need indoor space for their own meetings and celebrations.
Neighborhood and civic association meetings
The city recognizes more than 30 official neighborhoods, from Lake Emerald and Royal Palm Isles to North Andrews Gardens and Twin Lakes South. Association annual meetings, candidate forums and town-hall-style sessions fit naturally in the Multipurpose Room (40 conference-style, 50 auditorium-style) or, for a bigger turnout, the Main Auditorium with 275 seats, projection and a sound system so everyone in the back row can hear.
Nonprofit fundraisers and award dinners
A local nonprofit can run a full evening here: a check-in table and silent auction in the Welcome Lobby, then a seated dinner for up to 110 in the Main Auditorium with a program on stage. Place settings for 200, round tables and basic linens come with the auditorium rental, which keeps your rental list short. If you’d like to see the kinds of organizations the Center already works with, browse our community partners.
Latin family celebrations and senior gatherings
About 30% of Oakland Park residents identified as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census, and the city hosts its own Latin Fest. Quinceañeras, baptism parties and big family birthdays work well with the lobby for photos and arrivals and the auditorium for dinner and dancing. The city also runs an annual Senior Appreciation Day, and milestone birthdays, retirement parties and celebrations of life for older neighbors are a good fit for the calmer, smaller Multipurpose Room.
Which room fits your guest count?
All capacities below come straight from our rental page. If you’re between two sizes, Jim Wood can help you think through the layout.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Fundraiser dinners, town halls, concerts, quinceañeras |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail-style; 50 auditorium-style; 40 conference-style | Association meetings, workshops, small showers and birthdays |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Check-in, receptions, silent auctions, mingling |
A useful rule of thumb: first decide if guests will sit in rows, sit at tables, or stand. That one choice usually settles the room.
Planning tip: For civic meetings, ask for a few more chairs than your RSVP count. Neighborhood topics can draw walk-ins, and the auditorium’s 275 tan banquet chairs give you room to absorb a bigger crowd than expected.
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
A Main Auditorium rental includes a long list of furniture and dinnerware, so you aren’t renting basics from a third party:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables (seating 8 each) with basic linens
- Rectangular buffet tables in several sizes, with basic linens
- Six square card tables and six 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
- Kitchen access and password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi
- Use of the professional sound and video booth (staffed by the Center’s team; ask about equipment and operator fees)
The Multipurpose Room includes four 60-inch rounds, buffet and card tables, high-tops, 50 chairs, a whiteboard, kitchen access and Wi-Fi. Not every table fits in that room at once, and the team will help you plan the setup.
The kitchen is there for your caterer or your volunteers, 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.
See the rooms and full inventory
Setting the scene: lobby arrivals, program space and dinner layout
Think of the building as three zones. The Welcome Lobby (1,418 sq ft, up to 200 standing) has a Guest Services desk, which makes a natural check-in point, plus couches and club chairs for guests who’d rather sit. Sponsor banners, name tags and an auction table all fit here.
The Main Auditorium is where the program happens. With projection and a sound booth, you can run a slideshow honoring volunteers, play a video from a partner organization, or stream a speaker for members who can’t attend. If you’re hosting a dinner, the 13 round tables seat 104 at eight per table, which lines up with the 110 seated-dinner capacity.
The Multipurpose Room can serve as a breakout room, a green room for performers or a quiet space for a board to meet before the main event.
Planning checklist for your Oakland Park event
- Pick two or three possible dates and a rough start and end time.
- Estimate your headcount and choose seating: rows, rounds or standing.
- Match the room using the table above or the venue rental details.
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check availability and request a quote.
- Ask Jim to walk you through policies on food, décor, timing and anything else your group is planning.
- If you need slides, microphones or streaming, describe your program so the Center’s AV team can plan staffing.
- Book your caterer or food team and share the kitchen equipment list with them.
- Send guests the address, 4849 N. Dixie Highway, and let them know parking is on site.
- Schedule a walk-through so your setup crew knows the rooms.
Planning around the fall calendar and the road to 2029
Fall is busy in Oakland Park. Oktoberfest (supported by local brewery Funky Buddha), Halloween Bash, Trunk or Treat and Holiday Village all fill the end of the year, and the same volunteers and sponsors often have their own year-end dinners and holiday parties to plan. If your group wants a Friday or Saturday in October through December, start the conversation as soon as you have a date range.
Looking further ahead, the 2029 centennial is a natural occasion for reunions, history talks and anniversary dinners from civic clubs and longtime families. A planning committee can meet in the Multipurpose Room now and hold the big celebration in the auditorium later. To see what else is happening in the building, check the Center’s calendar.
Parking and arrival for neighbors
The on-site lot holds up to 150 vehicles, so guests pull in, park and walk straight to the lobby doors. For a 110-guest dinner, that leaves room to spare even if few people carpool.
Give guests the street address rather than a business name when they search, and mention that the venue is on North Dixie Highway in Oakland Park. Friends coming from neighboring Wilton Manors are only a few minutes away too; see our guide to an event space near Wilton Manors. Planners on the barrier island can read our post on hosting from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and downtown groups can see event venue options for Fort Lauderdale. For the countywide picture, our Broward County venue planning guide lists drive times from 24 cities.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Oakland Park?
The Center for Spiritual Living is at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park itself. From the center of the city it’s about 3 minutes and 1.1 miles via North Dixie Highway (SR 811). That’s a typical drive time, not a traffic-adjusted one, so allow extra time at rush hour.
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, so guests can park right at the building.
Can we project slides, stream or record our event?
The Main Auditorium has a fully equipped professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capabilities and a presidential teleprompter. It’s staffed by the Center’s team. Ask Jim Wood about equipment and operator fees when you request your quote.
Can a neighborhood association or nonprofit rent the space?
Yes. The venue welcomes meet-ups, networking events, fundraisers, nonprofit organization events, classes and community meetings, alongside weddings and parties. Jim Wood will walk you through availability and any policies that apply to your event.
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 send a message through the contact page.
What are some good event venues in Broward County, Florida?
Good Broward venues match your guest count, include the furniture you need, and have enough parking. The Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park offers a 275-seat auditorium, a 1,026-square-foot multipurpose room, a 200-guest lobby, a kitchen and parking for 150, within about 33 minutes of 24 Broward cities.
What are some small party venues in Fort Lauderdale?
For smaller gatherings, look for a room sized to your group so it doesn’t feel empty. The Multipurpose Room in Oakland Park, just north of Fort Lauderdale, holds up to 70 standing or 40 at conference tables and includes tables, chairs, Wi-Fi and kitchen access. Pricing is by inquiry with Jim Wood.
Want to see it before you decide? Stop by for a tour or call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868. You can also send us a note with your date and headcount, and we’ll help you find the right fit right here in Oakland Park. Curious who runs the place? Get to know CSL.
