Looking for a celebration of life venue near Tamarac? The Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, is about 16 minutes from Tamarac. Families can hold the service in a Main Auditorium that seats 275 (or 110 for a seated meal), gather afterward in the Welcome Lobby, and park up to 150 cars on site.
At a glance
- From Tamarac: about 16 minutes and 9.0 miles by car (typical time; traffic varies).
- Main Auditorium: 2,944 sq ft; 275 auditorium-style or 110 for a seated dinner.
- Welcome Lobby: 1,418 sq ft; up to 200 cocktail-style for a reception after the service.
- Multipurpose Room: 1,026 sq ft; 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style or 40 conference-style.
- Livestream: professional sound and video booth with streaming and projection, staffed by the Center’s team.
- Parking and kitchen: on-site lot for 150 vehicles; kitchen access with the Auditorium or Multipurpose Room.
- To book: call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868.
Why Tamarac families look to Oakland Park for celebrations of life
Tamarac and Oakland Park share more history than most people realize. Developer Ken Behring founded Tamarac in the early 1960s as an active adult community of two-bedroom, maintenance-free homes, and he named it after the nearby Tamarac Country Club in Oakland Park. Sixty-odd years later, the drive between the two is still short and familiar.
The city’s roots show in its numbers. In the 2020 census, 25.9% of Tamarac residents were 65 or older, and 18.8% of households had someone 65 or over living alone. The city grew as planned communities such as Tamarac Lakes, the Mainlands and the Woodlands. When a longtime neighbor passes, the people who want to say goodbye can fill a room quickly, and many of them prefer a space that is accessible, comfortable and easy to park at.
The venue’s own list of welcome events includes end-of-life celebrations, along with dinners, social events and religious and spiritual gatherings. It is a spiritual center that welcomes events of every kind and every background, so a family can shape the service around their own faith, a secular program or a mix of both.
How far is it from Tamarac?
From the center of Tamarac, the venue is about 9.0 miles away, typically about 16 minutes by car. The usual route runs east on West McNab Road, south on Northwest 31st Avenue, then east on West Commercial Boulevard (SR 870) and East Commercial Boulevard to North Dixie Highway.
That is a typical free-flow estimate measured from the middle of the city, not a promise for every address. Traffic varies, especially on weekday afternoons, so build a little extra time into the schedule you send to family and friends.
Celebrations of life, memorial receptions and 55+ club luncheons
A two-room flow for memorials
Many families find a memorial works best in two parts. The program happens in the Main Auditorium: rows of chairs facing the front, a projected slideshow of photos, a microphone for anyone who wants to share a story. Then everyone moves to the Welcome Lobby, which holds up to 200 standing, for coffee, food and the conversations that matter just as much as the eulogy.
If the family prefers a seated meal, the Main Auditorium can instead be set with round tables for up to 110 guests, with the program and the lunch in the same room.
Livestreaming for relatives who can’t travel
Many families have relatives spread far beyond Broward. The Main Auditorium’s sound and video booth includes streaming capabilities, so a grandson in another state can watch the service and hear every word. You can see what the Center’s own broadcasts look like on its livestream page.
Club luncheons, HOA meetings and veterans gatherings
The same rooms suit happier occasions too. A 55+ social club luncheon, a condo association’s annual meeting or a veterans group’s lunch around Veterans Day all fit the Main Auditorium or the Multipurpose Room. Tamarac already marks Veterans Day with a ceremony at Tamarac Veterans’ Park, where the ceremony unveils a hand-etched glass panel for the Veterans Honor Wall, and a post-ceremony lunch nearby is a natural follow-on.
Which room fits your guest count?
Memorial attendance is hard to predict. A good rule is to choose the room that comfortably holds the larger number you can imagine, so latecomers find a seat.
| Room | Size | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Auditorium | 2,944 sq ft | 275 auditorium-style, 110 seated dinner | Celebration of life services, memorial luncheons, club banquets |
| Welcome Lobby | 1,418 sq ft | 200 cocktail-style | Receptions after a service, guest books, photo displays |
| Multipurpose Room | 1,026 sq ft | 70 cocktail-style, 50 auditorium-style, 40 conference-style | Smaller memorials, HOA board meetings, family gatherings |
For the full furniture lists, see the rental page for each room.
Plan a memorial or luncheon in Oakland Park
What’s included: tables, linens, place settings and the kitchen
A Main Auditorium rental includes thirteen 60-inch round tables that seat 8 each, rectangular buffet tables and square card tables, all with basic linens. There are also six high-top cocktail tables with black linens or spandex, 275 tan banquet chairs, and two blue linen couches with two matching club chairs. For a reception, the buffet tables and high-tops do most of the work.
The rental also includes place settings for 200: salad and dinner plates, full dinnerware, basic linen napkins and water glasses. Your caterer, or the relatives who insist on bringing their famous casserole, can work from the kitchen, which comes with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room. It has two microwave ovens, a commercial coffee maker, a double-door refrigerator and a commercial reach-in refrigerator with 26 tray holders.
Password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout your rental.
Sound, video, streaming and teleprompter
The Main Auditorium’s professional sound and video booth handles projection, streaming and a presidential teleprompter. It is staffed by the Center’s team, which takes the technical worry off a grieving family. A slideshow of photos, a favorite song and a livestream link can all run from the booth while you focus on your guests.
A teleprompter also helps speakers who are nervous about reading a eulogy. Equipment and operator fees are by inquiry, so ask Jim Wood what your program needs.
Planning tip: Collect photos for the slideshow in one shared folder at least a few days ahead, and send them to the booth team in one batch. It is the single easiest way to keep the program on time.
Planning checklist for your Tamarac event
- Choose a date and time, and call Jim Wood at 954-566-2868 to check availability and get a quote.
- Decide on the format: service plus lobby reception, or a seated luncheon in the auditorium.
- Pick the speakers and the order of the program.
- Gather photos, music and any video for the booth team.
- Decide if you will livestream, and send the link to relatives who can’t attend.
- Arrange food with your caterer or family, planning around the kitchen equipment.
- Set up a guest book and memory table in the Welcome Lobby.
- Share the address, 4849 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, plus parking details with guests.
When to book: year-round, with Veterans Day and winter in mind
Memorials don’t follow a calendar, and families often have only days or a couple of weeks to plan. Call as soon as you have a possible date, and Jim Wood will tell you what is open.
Planned events are different. Veterans organizations thinking about a November luncheon, and 55+ clubs scheduling winter banquets, should reach out well in advance so they can choose among more dates.
Parking and arrival for guests coming from Tamarac
The on-site lot holds up to 150 vehicles, so guests don’t need to hunt for street parking or walk far. From the lot, visitors enter straight into the Welcome Lobby, where the Guest Services desk is a good spot for the guest book and printed programs.
For older guests, offer carpools from the same community and ask a family member to greet people at the door. Tamarac residents are used to coming together this way. Their city runs a monthly walking club at Mainlands Park and Food Truck Fridays at the Tamarac Village Amphitheater, as listed on the city’s special events page.
Who hosts your event
The building is home to the Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale. You can get to know the Center or read about its Sunday service, but a rental is your event, run your way. Jim Wood will walk you through policies, availability and setup before the day.
Comparing options in nearby cities? Read our guides to meeting space near Margate, a venue near North Lauderdale and event space near Sunrise, or start with the Broward County venue rental guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the venue from Tamarac?
The Center for Spiritual Living at 4849 N. Dixie Highway in Oakland Park is about 9.0 miles from central Tamarac, typically about 16 minutes by car. The usual route takes West McNab Road, Northwest 31st Avenue and Commercial Boulevard. Times are typical estimates and traffic varies.
Where is the best place to host a celebration of life?
The best place is one that fits the size of the crowd, has room for both a program and a reception, and is easy for older guests to reach and park at. The Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland Park has a 275-seat Main Auditorium for the service, a Welcome Lobby for up to 200 at the reception, and parking for 150 vehicles.
What is the order of events at a celebration of life?
Most follow a simple flow: a welcome, an opening reading or song, tributes and stories from family and friends, a photo slideshow, closing words, then a reception with food. The order is flexible, and families can shape it however feels right to them.
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.
Are tables, chairs and linens included?
Yes. A Main Auditorium rental includes round, buffet, card and cocktail tables with basic linens, 275 banquet chairs and place settings for 200. Kitchen access is included with the Main Auditorium or Multipurpose Room.
Is there Wi-Fi for presenters and guests?
Yes. The Center offers password-protected complimentary Wi-Fi. For a livestreamed memorial, the Main Auditorium’s sound and video booth handles the stream itself.
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.
If you are planning a goodbye or a gathering for someone from Tamarac, we would be glad to show you the rooms. Call Jim Wood, Director of Operations, at 954-566-2868, contact us online, or review the event space details first.
