Beat the winter blues by trying Curling on the Canal! Indianapolis Cultural Trail is proud to host the city’s first and only synthetic ice curling rinks on the scenic Downtown Canal. Opportunities to curl will be available from December through March at Vermont St. Plaza- West. Curling on the Canal is FREE and open to the public.
Curling rinks are located in Vermont St. Plaza- West, just in front of Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown IUPUI (414 W. Vermont St.) and south of the American College of Sports Medicine Fitness Garden. See the Canal map for all the ways to access the Canal and Vermont St. Plaza.
How to Participate in Curling on the Canal
Learn to Curl Clinics
Sundays | 1-3 PM | FREE
Join the Circle City Curling Club anytime between 1:00-3:00 PM on Sundays to learn all about this popular winter sport, including how to deliver the stone, scoring, and basic strategy, from the instructors. Play a friendly match or two on as you practice your new found knowledge and skills.
Learn to Curl is FREE and open to the public. All ages are encouraged to participate. Drop-in clinics run every Sunday weather permitting, starting December 8th, 2024 until March 2, 2025.
Beginner Curling League
Sundays | January 12, 19, and 26 | 3-5 PM | $30/team
New this winter is our inaugural Beginner Curling League at Curling on the Canal! Teams of two will compete in a three week league every Sunday from January 12 to January 26 at Vermont Street Plaza–West for a chance to win ultimate bragging rights and a trophy! Half-hour matches are held between 3-5 PM on our synthetic ice curling rinks and guided by the experts from Circle City Curling Club, who will teach you the rules, scoring, and insider tips to up your curling game.
The league is limited to 16 teams. Registration through Eventbrite and a $30/team fee is required to secure your spot. Registration opens on January 2. A waitlist is available for additional teams. Once registered, participants will receive schedules and other information via email from Circle City Curling Club. This league is open to all ages and skill levels, but participants under 18 must have an adult teammate.
Open Curling Hours
Open curling hours will begin in January and vary depending on staffing, weather, and daylight. However, they will generally be open during the following day and times. During open curling hours stones and rinks are FREE and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis.
- Monday- Friday | 9 AM- 4 PM
- Saturday | 9- AM – 4 PM
- Sunday | 9 AM-1 PM
Rink Rules:
- Rink is available on a first come, first served basis during open curl hours
- Do not walk on the surface of the rink
- Rink is CLOSED when stones are not out
- Stones are for use on synthetic ice curling rink only
- Use curling rink at your own risk, individual is responsible for injury or damage
- Rink surface is slippery, maintain caution if you must step on it briefly to retrieve a stone
- Kids of all ages welcome, but adult supervision is required for anyone under the age of 18
- Keep all pets off rink surface
What is Curling?
Curling is a popular winter team sport, played on ice, where two teams take turns to slide stones towards a target, called a ‘home.’ Learn more about the sport of curling, including rules, strategy, and opportunities to try it on ice, from our partners at the Circle City Curling Club!
FAQ
Where is Curling on the Canal located?
Curling rinks are located in Vermont St. Plaza West, just in front of Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown IUPUI (414 W. Vermont St.) and south of the American College of Sports Medicine Fitness Garden. See the Canal map for all the ways to access the Canal and Vermont St. Plaza. Warm beverages and snacks are available for purchase nearby at Starbucks at 414 W. Vermont St.
What should I wear?
Dress warmly in layers and clothing that doesn’t restrict your movement as you’ll need to be able to squat and lunge comfortably. Shoes should be thick-soled and without heels – sneakers are ideal.
How many people are needed on a team?
Traditional curling has teams of 4, but synthetic ice curling can be played with as little as 1 on 1. We recommend teams of 2 to enjoy the team and strategic aspects of the sport. 2 teammates are required for our Beginner Curling League.
How does scoring work?
A team scores one point for each of its own stones located in or touching the house that are closer to the centre than any stone of the opposite team. Only one team can score in an end. If no team’s stones are touching the house at the conclusion of an end, no points are scored. This is called a blank end.
Curling scoring examples
How do you win?
The winner is the team with the most points after 6-10 ‘ends’ or rounds. Teams agree to the amount of ‘ends’ they are playing before starting.
What options are there for food and beverages?
Warm beverages and snacks are available for purchase nearby at Starbucks at 414 W. Vermont St.
Where can I park?
Nearby street parking is available on Senate Ave., Indiana Ave., New York St. and Ohio St. It’s is paid Monday- Saturday, and FREE on Sundays and holidays. Additionally, there are several nearby paid parking lots and garages that are open to the public.