Planning a charity gala or club dinner in Lighthouse Point? The Center for Spiritual Living rents event space at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, about 16 minutes south of Lighthouse Point via Federal Highway. The Main Auditorium seats 110 for a seated dinner or 275 auditorium-style, the lobby holds 200 for a reception, and on-site parking takes 150 vehicles.
At a glance
- From Lighthouse Point: about 8.0 miles, about 16 minutes, mostly straight down Federal Highway (US-1) (typical; traffic varies)
- From Hillsboro Beach: about 9.7 miles, about 20 minutes
- Gala dinner: up to 110 seated in the 2,944 sq ft Main Auditorium, with place settings for 200 included
- Cocktail reception: up to 200 in the 1,418 sq ft Welcome Lobby
- Board and committee meetings: Multipurpose Room for up to 40 conference-style
- Program support: professional sound and video booth with projection and teleprompter; on-site parking for 150 vehicles
- Book: Jim Wood, Director of Operations, 954-566-2868
Why Lighthouse Point boards and clubs look to Oakland Park
Lighthouse Point has a gala tradition almost as old as its library. When the city’s library was established in 1965, a glamorous Library Ball on March 30, 1965 raised money for it, and the Library Ball returned every year from 1966 through 1971. Today it is the Doreen Gauthier Lighthouse Point Library. Any board, club or charity carrying that spirit forward needs the same ingredients: a dinner, a program and a room full of neighbors.
The city offers a new Community Center at Dan Witt Park and park pavilion rentals through its Recreation Department, which suit many local gatherings. When a gala needs a stage, a professional sound and video booth, a kitchen for the caterer and seated dinner for 110, a dedicated event venue is worth the short drive south.
The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale welcomes events of every kind and every background. Fundraisers and non-profit organization events are listed on our rental page alongside banquets, anniversaries and celebrations. Your event does not need to be spiritual.
How far is it from Lighthouse Point?
From the middle of Lighthouse Point, the venue is about 8.0 miles away, a typical drive of about 16 minutes. The route could hardly be simpler: East Sample Road to Federal Highway (US-1), about six miles south on US-1, then west on East Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) to North Dixie Highway.
Guests coming from Hillsboro Beach have about 9.7 miles and about 20 minutes, taking the Hillsboro Mile (A1A) south along the water, crossing on the Northeast 14th Street Causeway and picking up Federal Highway. Both times are typical estimates, not traffic-adjusted, and traffic on US-1 can add time.
Members living along the coast may also find our posts useful on event space near Pompano Beach, venue rental near Deerfield Beach and event venues near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
Charity galas, club award dinners and anniversary parties
Charity and library galas
A fundraising gala needs a reception space where guests can mingle, a dinner room with a clear view of the stage, and a screen for the cause. The layout here does that naturally. Guests arrive in the Welcome Lobby for cocktails, move into the Main Auditorium for dinner at round tables, and watch the program from their seats while the sound and video booth runs slides, a mission video and the speaker’s teleprompter.
If you’re running an auction, the lobby’s open floor and the auditorium’s card tables and buffet tables give you room to display items. Your committee decides the format, and our Director of Operations will walk you through what’s possible in each room.
Boating and fishing club award dinners
Most of Lighthouse Point is built on canals dug in the 1950s and 1960s, and boating is central to life here. Through the Hillsboro Inlet, local boats can reach Bimini (40 miles) or Grand Bahama (60 miles). In a city like that, boating clubs, fishing teams and tournament committees naturally want a dinner to close out the season.
The Main Auditorium handles an award night for up to 110 at rounds, with the stage for trophies and the projector for the season’s best catches. The Multipurpose Room, which holds 40 conference-style, works for monthly club meetings and planning sessions.
Anniversaries and milestone birthdays
Lighthouse Point is an established community, with a 2020 median age of 53.5 and 26.1% of residents 65 or older. Next door, Hillsboro Beach’s median age was 66.8. That means plenty of 50th anniversaries, 80th birthdays and retirement dinners. The auditorium can host a seated dinner with a slideshow, and the lobby’s couches and club chairs give older guests a comfortable place to sit.
Planning tip: For a gala, map your evening in three acts: lobby reception, seated dinner, program. Then time each act backward from when you want guests on the road home. Older guests and long drives up US-1 both reward an evening that ends on time.
Which room fits your guest count?
Every capacity below is taken from our event space rental page.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style; 110 seated dinner | Charity galas, club award dinners, anniversary parties, speaker events |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail; 50 auditorium-style; 40 conference-style | Board meetings, club meetings, gala committee work sessions |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Cocktail receptions, check-in, item displays |
If your guest list is above 110 for dinner, consider a cocktail-style event in the Welcome Lobby (up to 200), or a lecture or concert format in the auditorium (up to 275).
See capacities and request your gala date
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
A Main Auditorium rental includes the essentials for a dinner:
- Thirteen 60-inch round tables (seating 8 each) with basic linens
- Rectangular buffet tables in three sizes and six square card tables, with basic linens
- Six high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex for the reception
- 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
- Kitchen access and complimentary password-protected Wi-Fi
The kitchen supports your caterer with 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 the Multipurpose Room. Many galas add their own décor and specialty linens; ask the Director of Operations about what your event plans include.
Setting the scene: lobby arrivals, dinner layout and program space
Arrivals
Set your check-in at the Guest Services desk so name tags and table cards are ready the moment guests walk in. The 1,418 sq ft lobby handles up to 200 standing, with room for high-top tables and a display area.
Dinner
Thirteen 60-inch rounds seat up to 110 for dinner. Put your sponsors and honorees near the stage, keep a clear aisle for servers from the kitchen, and plan the buffet tables or a bar station along the side wall.
Program
The professional sound and video booth handles projection, streaming and the presidential teleprompter, staffed by the Center’s team with fees quoted on inquiry. That’s helpful for a gala chair who would rather not read from a phone. The stage also hosts music and performances through The Arts at CSL, if you’d like a sense of how it works for a concert.
Planning checklist for your Lighthouse Point event
- Set your goal: funds to raise, members to honor or a milestone to celebrate.
- Estimate attendance and pick a format: seated dinner (up to 110), reception (up to 200) or program seating (up to 275).
- Call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 with your preferred date and an alternate, and ask for availability and a quote.
- Tour the venue with your gala chair, caterer and anyone running the auction or awards.
- Reserve AV support for slides, video or the teleprompter.
- Ask the Director of Operations to walk you through policies, setup and breakdown windows.
- Announce early through your club newsletter or the city’s monthly Lighthouse Point magazine, which reaches every home and business.
- Send directions with the Federal Highway to Commercial Boulevard route and a note about on-site parking.
When to book: the winter social season
Winter is when the coast fills up. In Hillsboro Beach, the population has doubled during wintertime since the town’s earliest years, and the Town of Hillsboro Beach calendar carries community events like an evening of live music under the stars. With seasonal residents in town, it’s no surprise that winter is when many boards and clubs want to hold their big night.
If you’re aiming for January through April, reach out the previous fall. Supporting a cause of your own and curious about ours? The Center’s giving page explains how people support our work, and our community partners page shows who we work alongside.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from Lighthouse Point
Lighthouse Point takes its name from the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, which marks the northern limit of the Florida Reef. Guests won’t need a beacon to find us. The venue has on-site parking for up to 150 vehicles, so guests are a short walk from the Welcome Lobby, which helps for evening events with older guests.
For a full 110-guest dinner, encourage couples from the same neighborhood to ride together. For more cities and venue ideas, read our Broward County venue rental guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Lighthouse Point?
The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 8.0 miles and about 16 minutes from central Lighthouse Point. The typical route is East Sample Road to Federal Highway (US-1), south on US-1 and west on Commercial Boulevard. Times are typical and traffic varies.
Is the venue convenient for Hillsboro Beach?
Yes. From Hillsboro Beach, the drive is about 9.7 miles and about 20 minutes, typically via A1A, the Northeast 14th Street Causeway and Federal Highway. On-site parking holds up to 150 vehicles.
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.
Can we project slides, stream or record our event?
Yes. The Main Auditorium has a fully equipped professional sound and video booth with projection, streaming capability and a presidential teleprompter. It’s staffed by the Center’s team, and equipment and operator fees are quoted on inquiry.
Is there parking for guests?
Yes. The venue has on-site parking for up to 150 vehicles, so guests park on the property and walk into the Welcome Lobby.
How to get a free venue for an event?
Some groups borrow space from a member’s business, a club, a house of worship or a sponsor who donates the room. Free spaces usually come with limits on dates, equipment or capacity. If you need a stage, AV, a kitchen and seating for 110, call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to talk through your event and get a quote.
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 reach out through the contact page with your date and expected attendance.
Before your committee commits, come see the rooms in person. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868 or contact us online to arrange a walkthrough, or review the gala and dinner spaces first. It’s about 16 minutes down US-1.
