AFTER 25 years, a much-loved Ballarat institution will come to an end on Friday night with the closure of the monthly Pleasant St Primary School craft market.Assistant principal Kaye Bennett said that with much sadness the school council decided two weeks ago to put an end to the market, after a survey of parents suggested it was time for a change in fundraising direction."There were a number of factors. It's been very difficult to get parent volunteers in recent years, and the market depends a lot of volunteer help and people are just very busy on weekends these days," she said."We just found we needed to change our fundraising venture and we needed to do something that doesn't require the monthly commitment."A change is a good as a holiday and we have a new plan to do some different things next year."Ms Bennett said the craft market was as well supported as ever by stall holders and visitors, but it had simply run its course.It has been held on the fourth Sunday of each month since 1984, and in recent times finished each year with a twilight market, which Ms Bennett said would continue as an annual event.This year's twilight market will be held in the school grounds on Friday night."We are hoping to have a food and wine festival next year and a parents-only event, like a gala dinner dance, and we are also hoping to organise a fitness event for the children, such as a cycling event or walkathon or fun run," she said."We have had wonderful support from stall holders over the years, they have been brilliant. They are very loyal and dedicated and come back time and time again."Ms Bennett said the market raised between $7000 and $10,000 a year for the school, and she was confident that new fundraising ventures would yield similar funds."It is sad but it's also a good time to celebrate what we have and start looking forward," she said.