Need a banquet hall near Davie for a student-organization awards night or a graduation dinner? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, is about 22 minutes from Davie via Griffin Road and I-95. The Main Auditorium seats 275 for a showcase or 110 for a seated dinner, with on-site parking for up to 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- From Davie: about 14.7 miles, roughly 22 minutes in typical traffic via Griffin Road, I-95 north and East Commercial Boulevard.
- Main Auditorium: 2,944 sq ft; up to 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner.
- Multipurpose Room: 1,026 sq ft; up to 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style.
- Welcome Lobby: 1,418 sq ft; up to 200 cocktail-style for receptions and photos.
- Included with the auditorium: tables, 275 chairs, basic linens and place settings for 200, plus kitchen access.
- AV and parking: sound and video booth with projection and streaming; on-site parking for 150 vehicles.
- To book: Jim Wood, Director of Operations, 954-566-2868.
Why Davie student groups and families look to Oakland Park
Davie is a college town in a way few Broward cities are. Nova Southeastern University, which describes itself as the largest private research university in Florida, is here, along with Florida Atlantic University’s Davie campus, the University of Florida’s Davie campus, Broward College’s Central Campus and McFatter Technical College. That is a lot of student organizations, honor societies, cultural clubs and graduate programs, and almost all of them hold at least one banquet a year.
Spring is when everyone wants a room at once, and a plated dinner with projection and a performance needs more than a classroom. Families planning graduation parties run into the same problem at home. A 22-minute drive gets you a full banquet room, a 275-seat auditorium and a sound booth without anyone hauling folding tables.
Davie’s own character
Davie is also the largest town in Florida by population, and it keeps a Western streak you won’t find elsewhere in the county. Horseback riding is common, the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds anchor a Western-theme downtown, and Flamingo Gardens, founded in 1927, is one of South Florida’s oldest botanical attractions. Visiting parents in town for commencement will have plenty to see around Davie before and after your dinner in Oakland Park.
How far is it from Davie?
From the center of Davie, the venue is about 14.7 driving miles away, roughly 22 minutes in typical conditions. The usual route runs about 4.3 miles east on Griffin Road (SR 818) to I-95, about 8 miles north on I-95, then east on East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) toward North Dixie Highway.
These are typical estimates measured from the middle of town and are not traffic-adjusted. Davie is spread out, and it sits where I-595 meets I-75, so guests from the west end or Pine Island Ridge should add a few minutes. Evening banquets often start during rush hour; ask guests to leave early.
Parking and arrival for guests from Davie
On-site parking holds up to 150 vehicles. Students tend to carpool, families tend not to, and a graduation dinner usually brings both, so that capacity matters. Put the full Oakland Park address on the invitation or event page so nobody ends up at a similarly named building.
Student award banquets and cultural showcases
End-of-year banquets usually have three parts: dinner, awards and some kind of performance or slideshow. The Main Auditorium handles all three. Seat up to 110 at thirteen 60-inch rounds for dinner, run the awards from the front of the room, and let the sound booth handle music and a year-in-review video on the projector.
Showcases that need real seating
Cultural clubs often want a showcase night with dance, music or spoken word. In auditorium-style rows, the room seats up to 275, so friends, faculty and families can all watch without standing in the back. The sound and video booth is staffed by the Center’s team at additional cost; ask about equipment and operator fees when you call.
For a sense of how the auditorium gets used for music and performance, look at the Arts at CSL page.
Board inductions and smaller chapters
Not every group needs the big room. The 1,026-square-foot Multipurpose Room handles a chapter induction for 50 in rows, an officer retreat for 40 around tables, or a mixer for 70.
Compare rooms for your banquet
Graduation dinners and family celebrations
Graduation season brings families from everywhere. For relatives who cannot make the trip, the booth’s streaming capability can carry toasts, a slideshow and a few words from the graduate. The presidential teleprompter is there for the nervous speechmaker who wants to get every name right.
Davie families celebrate more than diplomas. About 40 percent of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino in the 2020 census, and quinceañeras, baptisms and anniversaries use the same auditorium-and-lobby setup. Faith communities, including Davie’s parish communities, can host retreats, dinners and gatherings here too; the venue welcomes events of every kind and every background.
Which room fits your guest count?
These capacities come straight from the venue’s rental page.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Award banquets, showcases, graduation dinners |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail; 50 auditorium; 40 conference | Inductions, officer retreats, chapter mixers |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Photo backdrops, receptions, post-show mingling |
A 100-guest awards dinner fits the auditorium in banquet mode. A 220-seat showcase followed by a reception uses the auditorium plus the lobby. Room-by-room details are on the event space rental page.
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
Student treasurers will appreciate this part. A Main Auditorium rental includes use of:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables seating 8 each, with basic linens
- 275 tan banquet chairs
- Two 18×72-inch, six 30×96-inch and six 18×96-inch rectangular buffet tables with basic linens
- Six square card tables and six high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex
- Place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses
- Kitchen access and password-protected complimentary 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. Kitchen use carries no additional charge with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room, which helps when a caterer is dropping off trays rather than staffing the night.
Planning tip: Award lists change at the last minute. Send the final slideshow and the teleprompter script to the tech team a few days out, then name one officer as the only person allowed to send changes on the night.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter
The professional sound and video booth runs projection, live streaming and a presidential teleprompter. For a student event, that covers walk-up music for award winners, a performance soundtrack, a slideshow and a stream link for families abroad.
To see how the Center handles a stream, visit its livestream page. Booth staffing comes from the Center’s own team, with equipment and operator fees quoted on inquiry.
Planning checklist for a Davie student event
- Check your school’s rules for off-campus events and who can sign for the organization.
- Agree on a headcount range for dinner versus showcase seating.
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check dates; spring weekends go first.
- Book a walkthrough with your president, treasurer and event chair.
- Line up a caterer and share the kitchen equipment list.
- Request the AV booth if you need music, slides, a stream or the teleprompter.
- Collect slides, videos and award names, and set a hard deadline for changes.
- Send guests the address, the Griffin Road to I-95 route and parking details.
- Review venue policies and timing with the Director of Operations before you confirm.
When to book: spring banquet and commencement season
April and May are the crunch: award banquets, end-of-year showcases and commencement weekends all land at once. If your organization wants a Friday or Saturday in that window, reach out in the fall semester, before the new officer board turns over.
Fall is easier for welcome mixers, inductions and cultural heritage nights, and it is a good time for a first walkthrough. Planning for students and families spread across the west side of the county? See our notes on event venues near Plantation, Cooper City and Pembroke Pines, or read the Broward County event venue guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Davie?
The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale in Oakland Park is about 14.7 driving miles from the center of Davie. In typical traffic it takes roughly 22 minutes via Griffin Road, I-95 north and East Commercial Boulevard. Rush hour can add time.
Can a student organization host its banquet here?
The venue hosts banquets, graduations, workshops and celebrations of many kinds. The Main Auditorium seats 110 for dinner or 275 for a showcase. Check your school’s rules for off-campus events, then call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to discuss dates and policies.
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 200 cocktail-style.
Can we project slides, stream or record our event?
Yes. The Main Auditorium has a professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capability and a presidential teleprompter. It is staffed by the Center’s team, and equipment and operator fees are quoted on inquiry.
Are tables, chairs and linens included?
Yes. A Main Auditorium rental includes thirteen 60-inch rounds, buffet, card and cocktail tables, 275 banquet chairs, basic linens and place settings for 200. The Multipurpose Room includes its own set of tables, 50 chairs and a whiteboard.
How can I find a free venue for an event?
Free options usually include campus rooms, public library meeting rooms and park facilities, or a sponsor who covers a rental. When a group outgrows those, a rental venue with furniture, place settings and kitchen access already included saves you from renting furniture and dishes separately. Pricing at the Oakland Park venue is by inquiry with Jim Wood.
What are some good event venues in Broward County, Florida?
Look for a venue that matches your headcount and includes the basics. The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale in Oakland Park offers a 275-seat auditorium, a 200-person lobby and a smaller Multipurpose Room, with parking for 150 vehicles and kitchen access.
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 use the Center’s contact page.
The best time to look at the room is before your officer board finalizes the budget. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 or reach out through our contact page to set up a tour, and share the room and rental details with your board beforehand.
